"Before lifting martial law, we have to be sure that there will be no surprises," Council for National Security (CNS) chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said.

Sonthi said the curtailing of basic rights and liberties had no direct impact on the daily life of citizens. The measures were directed at certain pressure groups that could cause trouble, he said.

He said he was close to completing a checklist of potential security problems before pronouncing the return of normal political activity.

Prime Minister Surayud Chu-lanont said he would consult with the CNS to determine the right time to end military control over civilian affairs.

Meanwhile, former Thai Rak Thai MP Surapong Towijakchaikul filed a petition yesterday calling for the lifting of martial law. He said the installation of the interim government was a clear sign that the political situation had been normalised.

By restoring basic rights, the country would demonstrate to the international community its commitment to return to democratic rule, he said.

Campaign for Popular Demo-cracy secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila dismissed the government's reasons not to lift the martial law as unreasonable.

He said the government could use a zoning system to monitor Thaksin's supporters. "I believe the CNS has some ways to monitor the group's leaders closely,'' he said.

The longer the government maintained martial law, the longer stability would be under threat from public anger, he said.

"Force can be used in the short term, but if the government wants to create reconciliation by using force over a longer period, the people will feel unease and opposition will rise,'' he said.

The government should not fear protests, he said, as they reflected government performance. "Martial law blocks the public from exercising their political rights and innocent people will be affected if they cannot air their grievances."

The government needed the media to create social reconciliation. By using force to silence the media, reconciliation could never be achieved.

At yesterday's Cabinet meeting, some ministers said martial law should be lifted. But security agencies opposed the move, saying the CNS would become an unlawful agency and their past acts would be nullified.

Also, the Thai Rak Thai Party was planning to mobilise political supporters, a source said. "It is possible that marshal law will be maintained until December 5," he said.

A Thai Rak Thai party source said members believed martial law would be maintained till the party was dissolved - for funding small parties to run against it in the April 2 poll. Members felt strict measures were in place to limit public opposition against the party being dissolved, the source said.