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VIENTIANE -- Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has again told his supporters he will set foot in his homeland as soon as the political situation returns to normal, which he believes will be soon.

Thaksin made the assertion after he took part in a bai sri su kwan well-wishing ceremony at Wat That Luang in Vientiane on Thursday morning amid very tight security provided by local authorities and red guards of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

Thaksin, accompanied by UDD core member Kwanchai Praipana and about 500 red-shirt supporters, also took part in a merit-making ceremony involving 129 Lao monks and 100 Thai monks.

"This is the best Songkran I've ever had because I have the chance to make merit with my brothers and sisters from the opposite side of the Mekong River," Thaksin told his supporters after the ceremony.

"This is as close as I can get [to Thailand] and I wish everyone here receives blessings and that our country will return to normal eventually," he said.

He wanted to be close to his supporters and help make their lives better.

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The billionaire businessman-turned-politician told the red-shirt crowd he wanted to hug each one of them but security had to be stringent because of the regulations.

"My heart wants to return home. Please wait just a little and I'll be back with my brothers and sisters," Thaksin said.

He thanked the crowd who came from many provinces to meet him and said he would not forget the good things they had done for him.

Thaksin was expected to leave Vientiane for Siem Reap in Cambodia on Thursday, where red-shirts were also waiting to greet him.

Pheu Thai list MP Jatuporn Prompan, a UDD co-leader, said the Cambodian government had arranged for 4,500 security personnel and 500 non-uniformed officers to ensure Thaksin's safety during his visit.

Mr Jatuporn said the red-shirt group will visit Chong Jom, Chong Sa Ngam, Pak Kad and Poipet checkpoints as planned.

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