REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANGKOK -- Thailand's junta lifted martial law on Wednesday after the country's king approved a request to do so, but it will be replaced with new orders retaining sweeping powers for the military.

"As of now there is a royal order to lift martial law across the kingdom," said an announcement on military television.

It added that the controversial law will be replaced by special security measures based on an article of the constitution criticised by rights groups for granting too much power to the authorities.

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