Thailand to issue passport for former prime minister Thaksin

BANGKOK - Thailand will issue a passport for its fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra "very soon", his sister's government said on Friday, angering the controversial ex-leader's opponents.

Thaksin was deposed by the army in 2006 and lives in self-imposed exile overseas to avoid a two-year prison term on a conviction for corruption that he contends is politically motivated.

He was stripped of his passport by the previous Thai government but received citizenship from Montenegro last year, allowing him to travel internationally.