Thousands of protesters have marched on the British embassy in Bangkok demanding the extradition of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra to face criminal charges at home.

Chanting "Return Thaksin home" and waving banners that read in both English and Thai "Send Tax-sin for punishment" and "Britain please - no asylum for thieves", the 7000 strong crowd blocked traffic in one of the capital's main shopping areas.

Thaksin and his wife Pojaman skipped a required court appearance in a corruption case last Monday and instead fled to England, to avoid a possible 13 year prison sentence for fraud. Pajamin was convicted of tax evasion two weeks ago and sentenced to three years in jail.

The protest leaders delivered a letter to a representative of the British Ambassador, Quinton Quale. "We are coming here to submit a letter to the British government asking them to return Thaksin to receive justice in Thailand" said Chamlong Srimuang, one of the protest leaders. The protesters were from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who wore yellow T-shirts and headscarfs to show allegiance to the king.

"Thaksin is not a political refugee but a criminal evading an arrest warrant," one banner hoisted above the crowd read.

The former Prime Minister, who owns Manchester City football club, was overthrown in a coup in September 2006. AFter 18 months in the UK he returned to Thailand, vowing to fight corruption charges

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that a corruption trial against him and Pojaman could proceed even though the couple fled the country. Thai prosecutors are still discussing the possibility of requesting his extradition from Britain.

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