BANGKOK, Nov 11 – Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thursday the government may consider lifting the state of emergency in Bangkok and three adjacent provinces before it expires in January.

Mr Abhisit said the emergency decree can be lifted in Bangkok and nearby provinces if the situation clearly improves. Now, the government intends to revoke the state of emergency in some areas in the three southern border provinces.

He said the state of emergency put in place in the capital and three adjacent provinces of Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Pathum Thani will expire in January and if everything is in order, it can be lifted before it expires.

The situation in the past month has improved but the government must keep monitoring as the Red Shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and the Yellow Shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) may renew their protests.

MCOT