Thai PM says martial law to be lifted

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

BANGKOK (AFP) — Thailand's prime minister Samak Sundaravej vowed Thursday to lift martial law, imposed after the 2006 coup, in most of the kingdom after his party swept to victory in last year's polls.

Samak, whose People Power Party is closely allied with ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said the restrictions were no longer needed.

"At today's (Thursday's) meeting of the National Security Council, we agreed to lift martial law rule in 179 districts of 31 provinces," he told reporters.

Martial law will remain in the three southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, which are in the grip of a separatist insurgency, he said.

The army toppled Thaksin on September 19, 2006, and swiftly imposed martial law throughout the kingdom.

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