Bangkok, Oct 3 (DPA) Thailand's ousted prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, resigned Tuesday as leader of the party he founded, Thai Rak Thai, saying the move was necessary in light of the new political climate brought on by the country's Sep 19 coup.

In a hand-written note faxed to the party's Bangkok headquarters from London Tuesday, the former prime minister thanked his party's faithful and apologised to them for resigning.

"Because of the political change brought on by the coup, all the executives of the party should show sacrifice by resigning. This will give a chance for the selection of a new executive board," Thaksin wrote.

In his letter, Thaksin declared his loyalty to the Thai king and constitution and blamed his enemies in the People's Alliance for Democracy for dividing the country.

"I have based my work on giving benefit of the Thai people and the Thai nation," he said, adding that he had worked hard to maintain peace in the country.

Thai Rak Thai, which means "Thais Love Thais", was founded by Thaksin in 1998 and came to dominate Thailand's politics. It won landslide victories in the 2000 and 2005 general elections by record margins.

But since last month's coup many party leaders had already resigned and its alleged corruption has come under scrutiny by a counter-corruption commission appointed by the leaders of the military junta that overthrew the Thaksin government.

Thaksin signed his letter Lieutenant Colonel Thaksin Shinawatra, the rank he held in the Royal Thai Police before he went on to become a telecommunications tycoon and populist politician.

Thaksin was in the United States when the coup was hatched and flew shortly afterwards to London, where he maintains one of his residences.