Martial law to be lifted, but no date yet: Thai government spokesman

Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont will lift the martial law over the country "as soon as possible" but has no exact date in mind yet, new government spokesman Yongyuth Maiyarap said Monday.

According to the Bangkok Post, Yongyuth said the prime minister would have to discuss the matter with his cabinet first before making a decision.

The interim cabinet line-up was announced early Monday after receiving the endorsement from the King. The first cabinet meeting is to be held Thursday morning, in which ministers will discuss division of work between the two newly appointed deputy prime ministers, Pridiyathorn Devakula, the finance minister, and Kosit Panpiemras, the industry minister.

New government policies would also be discussed at Tuesday's meeting, said Yongyuth.

The Council for Democratic Reform, now named the Council for National Security, imposed martial law nationwide on Sept. 19 immediately after the council leader, army commander Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, and other generals staged a coup to oust former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

International communities led by the United States, as well as local activist groups, have urged the coup-makers to lift martial law, as the first step to bring the country back on track of democracy, as the military council has promised.

Source: Xinhua