Thailand's lower house of parliament has passed a political amnesty bill that critics say could allow the return of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

The lower house passed the controversial bill in the early hours of Friday as it now goes to the Senate.

Source disclosed that the amnesty applies to offences committed during the political turmoil after Mr Thaksin was ousted in a coup.

 Advocates of the bill say it will draw a line under the political turmoil that resulted from the military coup in 2006 that removed Mr Thaksin from power, leaving Thailand bitterly divided.

 Thaksin Shinawatra has lived in self-imposed overseas exile since being convicted of corruption in 2008, charges he says are politically motivated.