Thailand lifts Red Shirt state of emergency

Thailand is to lift a state of emergency in Bangkok, eight months after it was imposed during anti-government demonstrations by Red Shirt protesters.

A spokesman for prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the security situation no longer justified such strict control but added that a new security law will allow the detention of suspects without charge for up to a week.

Battles between troops and the Red Shirts killed 90 people and injured about 1,400. Occasional protests have continued since the army stormed the protesters' camp on May 19.

A state of emergency was initially declared in April after demonstrators broke into parliament to press their demands for elections. It was extended to cover almost one-third of the country's 76 provinces. Bangkok and three surrounding regions are the last areas to have it lifted.