Security law lifted

The cabinet meeting on Tuesday lifted the security law from Bangkok's Dusit district but would call a special meeting to enforce it again whenever necessary, government deputy spokesman Watchara Kannikar said.

The government invoked the Internal Security Act in Bangkok's Dusit district from Aug 29 to Sept 1 to deal with the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship's planned anti-government rally last Sunday. However, the red-shirt group postponed until this Saturday.

Army Region 1 commander Kanit Saphithak said all eight companies of soldiers deployed to safeguard Government House and other areas in Dusit would be withdrawn by midnight.

Security around the government compound would now be handled by police and military guards as usual, Lt-Gen Kanit said.

Asked if he was worried about the UDD's planned rally on Saturday, the commander said he could not assess the situation yet.

The Security Operations Centre (SOC), supervised by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, together with the Defence Ministry and the army commanders would evaluate the situation again, Lt-Gen Kanit said.

"The army will only follow orders and it is up to the SOC to decide," he said.