Thailand to end state of emergency in Bangkok

Thailand's government agreed on Tuesday to lift a state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, effective Wednesday.

"The cabinet decided to lift the decree because the opposition movement has become more peaceful," Supachai Jaisamut, a government spokesperson, told reporters.

The state of emergency was declared on April 7 to handle "red shirt" anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok. It was imposed across more than a quarter of the country in May, when a crackdown to disperse protesters led to the worst political violence in Thailand's modern history.