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State of Emergency in Bangkok to be lifted Friday: Thai PM

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-24 10:12

BANGKOK -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced early Friday morning that he would lift a state of emergency in Bangkok on Friday, saying his government wanted reconciliation in the country and made it move forward.

The Thai PM made the announcement after a special parliamentary debate session ended after midnight, which was held in a bid to find solution for the current confrontation between the government and the rival movement by so-called "red-shirt people".

Abhisit declared a state of emergency over Bangkok and surrounding areas in five nearby provinces on April 12 after rallies of red-shirted protesters blocked the ASEAN and related Summits in central beach resort city Pattaya and then stormed state institutions in Bangkok, demanding the Abhisit government to resign.