A Thai newspaper has reported that an official request to the UAE, for the return of exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawtra, was recently made by Thai authorities.

It was explained by the newspaper yesterday that a plea to UAE ambassador Mohammed Ali Ahmed Omran Al Shamri was made yesterday by Thailand's foreign minister Kasit Piromya.

Last year, Thaksin, who did a major corruption in Thailand, had run away to Dubai.

"The government wants the UAE authorities to agree an extradition treaty and send Thaksin home where a lengthy jail term awaits him after he was convicted in absentia," said Piromya's secretary, Chavanont Intarakomalsut.

Thai courts also asked to scrap the billionaire of more than 50 per cent of his assets - about $1.4billion.

As per the newspaper's report, the UAE ambassador said yes to pass on the message to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

No deadline for extradition of the former Prime Minister, who was ousted in a coup in 2006, has been set by the Thai government.

No comments could be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.