Thailand's prime minister Surayud Chulanont insisted on Thursday that the government saw the necessity in revoking the diplomatic passports of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Potjaman.

Surayud said it was necessary to cancel the diplomatic passports of the couple, citing reasons raised by the Foreign Ministry that Thaksin was involved in inappropriate political activities, the Bangkok Post said on its website.

However, the premier declined to elaborate the so-called "political activities" that Thaksin was claimed to be engaged in.

Meanwhile, Noppadol Pattama, the legal advisor of Thaksin, said on Thursday that the ousted premier felt the junta's crackdown on his activities was "unfair."

"Former prime minister Thaksin felt it was unfair to revoke his diplomatic passport, as well as his wife's, since he was not using that passport to travel to mount political activities," Noppadol said, adding "the reason cited for canceling his passport was groundless."

Earlier, Surayud accused factions linked to Thaksin of staging the Bangkok bombings on New Year's Eve, but Thaksin himself denied any involvement.

Source: Xinhua