Thai govt to end state of emergency

Thailand will lift a state of emergency today that was imposed eight months ago when Red Shirt protesters overran Bangkok, but the government will retain broad powers to detain suspects and impose order.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the government felt it no longer needed the sweeping controls imposed during April riots by the anti-government protesters, who camped for weeks in a zone fortified by wooden stakes in the heart of the capital. Clashes between protesters and soldiers left more than 90 people dead.
However, Abhisit indicated the government was still rattled by continuing political turmoil that some feel could explode again into violence.
"Concerned security officials have to be able to monitor peace and order and be ready to handle any untoward incident," Abhisit told reporters after meeting with his Cabinet yesterday to revoke the emergency decree in Bangkok and three surrounding provinces.