Thai army approves partial lifting of martial law

BANGKOK, Nov 27 (Reuters) The Thai army agreed today to the lifting of martial law in 40 of the country's 76 provinces, which have been under notional army rule since a bloodless September 19 coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Council for National Security (CNS), as the coup leaders called themselves, said in a statement the proposal would be submitted to the cabinet of army-appointed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont for approval tomorrow.

It did not say which provinces would remain under martial law, or why. The CNS has referred frequently to the presence of ''undercurrents'' in the rural north, where Thaksin support was strongest, as justification.

''Everybody wants to see peace and order in our country and the lifting of martial law will have a positive political and psychological impact,'' army chief and coup leader Sonthi Boonyaratglin told reporters after a CNS meeting.

Sonthi, who said last week martial law would be lifted by the end of 2006, said it would be kept in provinces along the border although he did not clarify his comments.

The emergency security legislation has included restrictions on the Internet and media, as well as political gatherings, although in the wake of the bloodless putsch there has been little evidence of them being enforced.

REUTERS PB KN1450