Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday lifted the state of emergency in six more provinces, bringing down to 10 the number of provinces - including Bangkok - where the decree remains in effect.

The prime minister in the evening signed an order, with immediate effect, to lift the state of emergency in Ayutthaya and Chon Buri in the Central region, and Nong Bua Lamphu, Mukdahan, Maha Sarakham and Chaiyaphum in the Northeast.

The state of emergency will stay in 10 provinces - Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima and Ubon Ratchathani.

In early April, the government imposed emergency in Bangkok and some surrounding provinces after red-shirt protesters stormed into the Parliament compound. As the political situation became more violent, emergency was imposed in other provinces, raising the total number to 24.

On July 6, one day before the decree's three-month period expired, the Cabinet lifted the emergency in five provinces and renewed it in 19 other provinces for another three months. On July 20, emergency was lifted in three more provinces.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security affairs, said yesterday there was a need for emergency to be retained in Bangkok and surrounding provinces as a tool for the authorities in dealing with possible unrest or provocation. He said the government had no intention of retaining the state of emergency until the year-end, but that it would depend on the situation.

Suthep, in his capacity as director of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), chaired its meeting yesterday at the Army headquarters. Among the participants were Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, Army commander-in-chief General Anupong Paochinda, National Security Council secretary-general Thawil Pliensri, and Department of Special Investigation director-general Tharit Pengdit.

Separately, Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul said yesterday that the governors in the provinces where the state of emergency has been lifted should find additional measures to maintain peace and order there.

Meanwhile, the opposition Pheu Thai Party said the government's decision to retain emergency was tantamount to violating human rights.

Party deputy spokesman Jirayu Huangsap said that six school and college students had been arrested for staging a peaceful protest against the emergency decree. He said the party was looking into the case, adding that it has provided legal assistance to the youngsters.

The spokesman also called for local and international human rights organisations to take action against what he described as the government's abuse of the emergency decree.

In a related development, Prawase Wasi, chairman of the government-appointed Reform Assembly, said his assembly would not make a formal request for the complete lifting of emergency. He said the assembly had no information regarding the matter and making such a request could turn out to be a mistake.

"When the situation improves, it will be cancelled eventually. We don't need to make a request that it be lifted," he said.

Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun, in his capacity as chairman of the National Reform Committee, which is working closely with Prawase's assembly, had earlier called for the state of emergency to be completely lifted.