Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has returned to Thailand after 17 months in self-imposed exile. He was deposed in a coup in September 2006.

The 58-year-old billionaire businessman kissed the ground at the airport before being taken to the Supreme Court to answer charges of corruption.

The court bailed Mr Thaksin and told him not to leave Thailand. He has denied all the allegations, saying they are politically-motivated.

Mr Thaksin still has a huge following in the country. Thousands of his supporters, as well as key government figures, gathered at the airport to greet him.

The crowd erupted in applause when Mr Thaksin appeared. Some people had waited 10 hours to see him, waving banners saying "we love you" and "welcome home".

Two players from Mr Thaksin's British football team, Manchester City, were travelling with him. Mr Thaksin says he now wants to focus his energy on developing the club.

Mr Thaksin says he will not get involved in politics again, but analysts say with so many of his allies in power, he will have a huge influence over the running of the country.