Thai FM travels to Singapore

Thai FM travels to Singapore

BANGKOK (AFP): Thai Foreign Minister Thaksin Shinawatra left
here yesterday for Singapore as part of a familiarization tour of
Southeast Asian nations.

Thaksin, a millionaire businessman who was appointed foreign
minister in October, was scheduled to fly on to Jakarta the
following day, returning to Singapore for a two-day private visit
over the weekend.

Thaksin meanwhile said on Tuesday he would decide next week
whether he would remain in government following the expected
passage of a constitutional amendment seen as banning cabinet
members from holding state concessions.

He ceded the chairmanship of his Shinawatra conglomerate to
his wife on appointment to the cabinet, but the company holds a
major government telecommunications contract.

Details of Thaksin's visit to Jakarta were not immediately
available.