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Thailand to lift emergency rule Thailand to lift emergency rule as protests ease
(about 1 hour later)
Thailand is to lift its state of emergency on Wednesday, as tensions ease following weeks of anti-government protests.Thailand is to lift its state of emergency on Wednesday, as tensions ease following weeks of anti-government protests.
Officials say the emergency decree will be replaced by the Internal Security Act instead. Officials say the emergency decree will be replaced by the Internal Security Act.
The 60-day decree, imposed on 22 January in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, gave the government wide-ranging powers to deal with disorder. The 60-day emergency decree, imposed on 22 January in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, gave the government wide-ranging powers to deal with disorder.
Anti-government protesters want PM Yingluck Shinawatra to resign.Anti-government protesters want PM Yingluck Shinawatra to resign.
The protesters, who began their campaign in November, accuse the government of being run by exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, Ms Yingluck's brother. They want her government replaced with an unelected 'people's council'. The protesters, who began their campaign in November, accuse the government of being run by exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, Ms Yingluck's brother.
They want her government replaced with an unelected "people's council".
At the height of the demonstrations, protesters shut down key road junctions in Bangkok and blockaded government ministries.At the height of the demonstrations, protesters shut down key road junctions in Bangkok and blockaded government ministries.
Numbers have fallen in recent weeks, however, and the protesters are now mainly occupying a city-centre park.Numbers have fallen in recent weeks, however, and the protesters are now mainly occupying a city-centre park.
"We have agreed to lift the state of emergency and use the Internal Security Act starting from tomorrow until 30 April as the number of protesters has dwindled... and after pleas from the business community," National Security Chief Paradorn Pattanathabutr told Reuters news agency. Ms Yingluck approved the decision to lift the emergency decree during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
"We have agreed to lift the state of emergency and use the Internal Security Act (ISA) starting from tomorrow until 30 April as the number of protesters has dwindled... and after pleas from the business community," National Security Chief Paradorn Pattanathabutr told Reuters news agency.
The ISA allows the government to impose curfews, put up security checkpoints and restrict protesters when the need arises.
The government declared the state of emergency ahead of the snap general election held on 2 February, called by Ms Yingluck in response to the protests.
Its wide-reaching provisions included giving the government power to censor the media, ban public gatherings and detain suspects without charge.
The opposition boycotted the election, but polls proceeded as scheduled in most parts of the country.
However, protesters disrupted voting in some constituencies, leaving parliament without a quorum, meaning a new government cannot be formed.
At least 23 people died and hundreds have been injured since the protests - Thailand's worst political violence since 2010 - began late last year.