BANGKOK (AP) -- Thailand's leading parties wooed possible partners for a coalition government on Monday, a day after allies of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra came out on top in the country's first election since he was ousted in a September 2006 military coup.

The pro-Thaksin People's Power Party won just under half the seats in the 480-member lower house of parliament, delivering a powerful message that the exiled prime minister's mostly rural supporters would be happy to see him return despite allegations he was corrupt and abused power.
Not so happy to see Thaksin return would be those who deposed him the military, Bangkok's educated middle class, and the country's elite, including elements around the monarchy who felt threatened by his accumulation of power.
Speaking in Hong Kong, the self-exiled Thaksin said he will ""explore options"" for a return sometime between mid-February and April, but will not resume his political career after being ousted in a bloodless coup d'etat last year.
""I really want to go back as a normal citizen. Enough is enough for politics,"" said Thaksin at a press conference.
However, he said he would be willing to act as a political adviser to the People's Power Party if asked. ""If they (the PPP's leaders) want my opinion and ideas, then I will give it to them,"" said Thaksin.