Thailand lifts martial law in 41 provinces

Martial law was imposed immediately after the military staged a bloodless coup last September 19 ousting Thaksin's Govt.

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej has signed the royal decree lifting martial law in 41 of the kingdom's 76 provinces, including Bangkok, effective from January 26.

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Martial law was imposed immediately after the military staged a bloodless coup last September 19 ousting the elected government of then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The lifting was approved by the military-backed government in November pending royal endorsement which was announced in the Royal Gazette on Friday.

However, security concerns in and around Bangkok are expected to remain paramount after a series of bomb attacks in the capital on New Year's Eve.

Arrests were made last week of persons suspected by investigators as having a connection with the bombings but police on Friday released all but one of the 19 persons who had been detained for lack of evidence.

The suspects -- men in uniform and civilians — were rounded up after police raided about 20 locations in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Lopburi earlier this month.

Martial law continues in 35 provinces, mostly along the border including Kanchanaburi, Kampangphet, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Nakhon Ratchasima.