The Cabinet agreed yesterday to end martial law in 41 provinces, including Bangkok and its surrounds, Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas said.

He said the government hoped its decision would help ease the pressure on Thailand.

"The lifting of martial law is to improve our international image and help with tourism," Boonrawd said.

Authorities have contingency plans to be enforced in lieu of martial law and are optimistic they can maintain control in Bangkok and other areas once things return to normal, the defence minister said.

Yesterday's resolution will come into force once the move gets approval from the King, which is expected within days.

"The other 35 provinces are still under martial law because of domestic and international security concerns relating to illicit drugs, human trafficking and goods smuggling," Boonrawd said.

The Council for National Security left it up to the government to decide whether to lift martial law in the capital, the minister said, and Cabinet took the chance to ease security restrictions. Of the 35 provinces still under martial law, 20 are located along the borders and already had tough security measures prior to the September 19 coup, he said.

Following the seizure of power, martial law was extended to cover 15 additional provinces, including five in the South that faced outbreaks of violence and 10 provinces plagued by anti-coup activities, he said.

"Subversive movements" re-mained strong in Chiang Mai, Kamphaeng Phet, Buri Ram and Khon Kaen and this prompted martial law to be continued in these provinces, he said.

The provinces were also where support for deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had remained strong.

Supreme Commander General Boonsarng Niumpradit said the

military would continue to closely monitor the security situation across the country as a precaution.

"With or without martial law, we have to be certain that we remain in control of the situation," he said.

In regard to a rally planned by local government employees in Bangkok on December 10, he said authorities were monitoring the event but had not detected anything out of the ordinary.

The Assembly of the Poor filed a petition at Government House calling for a complete end to martial law.

It also demanded the interim government increase public involvement in the drafting of the new charter and open talks within 30 days to address grievances of rural villagers.

Authorities had cited the coup as justification to suspend all talks on rural complaints, including compensation for villagers uprooted for the construction of Rasi Salai Dam, it said in the petition.