Asia-Pacific

Thailand declares emergency in capital, nearby areas

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-07 20:59
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BANGKOK - Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva declared state of emergency in Bangkok and some areas of the nearby four provinces in a live TV address at about 6:00 p.m. Wednesday.

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He has assigned Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban to head the committee that handles the emergency situation, Ahbisit said.

There are four reasons to declare the state of emergency, said the Prime Minister, first is to restore normalcy; second, to stop the spreading of distorted information, which has led to social divisiveness; third, to conduct the legal procedure against the " red-shirts" leaders; forth, to stop the crimes and violences.