Martial law to stay

Martial law will remain in place in some Thai provinces indefinitely, one of Thailand's junta leaders said yesterday, despite calls by political parties to lift restrictions ahead of promised elections.

General Winai Phattiyakul, secretary-general of the junta that overthrew Thaksin Shinawatra last year, said unspecified security concerns meant martial law would remain in much of the kingdom.

"In some areas it will be lifted, while in others - mainly on the border with neighbours - it will be maintained for security reasons," he said.