Thaksin divorces wife in shock announcement

Bangkok: Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has divorced his wife of the last 32 years, Potjaman, his spokesman said on Sunday, without revealing further details.

"I can confirm that he has divorced but I did not ask for further details as I consider that personal," spokesman Pongthep Thepkanchana said about the shock announcement.

The spokesman added that the divorce was believed to have taken place last week at the Thai consulate in Hong Kong, where Thaksin has spent time since the British government revoked his visa a week ago.

The move is thought to be either a stunt to evoke sympathy or to protect the couple's assets, Thaksin's opponents and the Thai media said.

Nearly $2 billion has been frozen in Thaksin's Thai bank accounts since the coup, and both he and his wife have been convicted of corruption or conflict of interest offences although have avoided jail by fleeing the country.