Thailand to end state of emergency in Bangkok

BANGKOK Dec 21 (Reuters) - 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 spokesman, 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. (Reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Alan Raybould)