Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-Ngam said Thursday he had submitted his resignation and was not stopped by caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, reported The Nation website.

Wissanu expects he would resign soon, but did not state the exact time to bow out. He said he already informed caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"I will end my political career and will not be member or run in election under a political party. I will return to my teaching career," Wisanu said.

His announcement ended week-long rumors speculations after Dr Bowornsak Uwanno, former cabinet secretary general resigned a few weeks ago.

He declined to comment whether his resignation was caused by conflicts in the government.

It is reported that Wissanu had been an adviser to Thaksin through the caretaker premier's several key legal challenges, including Thaksin family's US$1.9 billion sale of the controlling stake in Shin Corp. to Singapore's state-owned Temasek Holdings company.

The tax-free deal has sparked wide spread anti-Thaksin protests earlier this year, which unseated the then prime minister following the dissolution of the Lower House.

Political experts said Wissanu's departure would deal a heavy blow on Thaksin's government.

Wissanu is one of six deputy prime ministers in the Cabinet. He was in charge of legal matters concerning the government and was one of Thaksin's top legal advisers.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2006)