By SUTIN WANNABOVORN, Associated Press Writer

Fri Feb 29, 4:11 AM ET

Thailand 's prime minister angrily insisted he was the country's real leader Friday despite the triumphant return from exile of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the man considered the driving force behind the new government.

"I am the real prime minister!" Samak Sundaravej snapped at a reporter who suggested that Thaksin was once again the government's boss. "Is that all you can think of? How shameful. How can you say that there are two prime ministers?"

Samak and his People's Power Party won Dec. 23 general elections by openly campaigning as proxies for Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and had lived abroad until Thursday.

Thaksin's homecoming after 17 months in exile was widely seen as a return to the center of Thai politics despite the military's efforts to eradicate his legacy. But he faces several hurdles: he is charged with corruption in two criminal cases and legally barred from engaging in politics for four years.

Thaksin appears focused on rebuilding his power base just as rifts are surfacing within the PPP and Samak, who was hand-picked by Thaksin and now appears intent on consolidating power.

"I am no one's nominee," Samak snapped at reporters as he headed off on his first official visit to Laos , which was overshadowed by Thaksin's itinerary in Bangkok .

Thaksin arranged a public relations blitz Friday featuring free clinics with English soccer players and a visit to Thailand 's most senior Buddhist monk.

When Thaksin flew home Thursday, he brought along two players from his Manchester City soccer team, saying they could help improve the skills of Thai children and the national team. Thaksin bought the Premier League team while living in exile in London .

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and striker Kelvin Etuhu were scheduled to hold a clinic for children sponsored by Thaksin on Friday afternoon — an event guaranteed to attract media attention in this soccer-mad nation.

The 58-year-old telecoms tycoon earlier visited the hospitalized head of the Thai Buddhist clergy, Supreme Patriarch Nyanasamvara Suvaddhana Mahathera, who is a revered figure in this predominantly Buddhist country. Visits to other monks were also planned.

Thaksin arrived at Chulalongkorn Hospital in a bulletproof car amid unusually high security. The ex-prime minister's safety is an apparent concern. He is staying at a Bangkok luxury hotel, chosen in part because it has a rooftop helipad in case he requires an emergency evacuation, the interior minister said Thursday.

Although Thaksin faces corruption charges and has promised to stay away from politics, critics fear his return is a calculated step toward regaining power.

"Thaksin's behavior totally contradicts what he says. His behavior makes it clear that he came back to reclaim his power — to show that he is the real leader," the Thai-language Thai Post said in an editorial.

Cabinet members from the PPP, which is packed with Thaksin's allies, are expected to defer to the former leader, undermining the authority of Samak.

Hours after Thaksin arrived from Hong Kong , the finance minister announced that the government would consult him for economic advice.

"He is in the back seat but he is still driving the car," said Jon Ungpakorn, former senator and social and political activist.

Opponents warn that a new political role for Thaksin could renew the deep tensions that provoked mass demonstrations before his ouster.

Thaksin's autocratic leanings and alleged corruption drew resentment from the Bangkok elite, the military and people associated with the monarchy. Those forces tried to erase Thaksin's political legacy, changing the constitution and opening criminal investigations against him.

But he retains widespread popularity among rural people and the urban poor, who benefited from his financial and social welfare policies.

Thaksin could face a total of up to 15 years in jail for two cases lodged against him after the bloodless coup. He has been charged with corruption and conflict of interest and failing to disclose his family's assets.

He was quickly granted bail in both cases, which will be heard over the next two months. About $2.1 billion in assets belonging to Thaksin and his family have been frozen until his name is cleared.

Thaksin insisted during a Thursday news conference he will devote his time to charity and sports development.

"I don't want to be involved in politics any longer. I want to live peacefully with my family and die in this motherland," Thaksin said.