Thailand lifts emergency, plans charter reforms

[Coventina]

Source: Reuters

BANGKOK, April 24 (Reuters) - Thailand's prime minister ended a 12-day state of emergency in Bangkok on Friday and called for constitutional reforms in a bid to heal the deep political rifts behind recent violent protests.

"The lifting of the decree will send a signal to the world that Thailand is back to normal," Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters after signing the order ending emergency rule in the capital and nearby areas.

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Bangkok has been calm since troops and local residents fought running street battles with red-shirted supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra seeking to topple Abhisit and force new elections.

But Thailand's four-year-old political crisis, which has eroded confidence in the tourism- and export-driven economy, is far from over.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/africaCrisis/idUSBKK404216