Thailand's king has approved a request from the country's junta to lift martial law. The approval was announced in a palace statement broadcast on state media late Wednesday and takes effect immediately. Thailand's army imposed martial law two days before staging a coup 10 months ago. The nation's coup leader has said he will invoke a special security measure in its place that critics say gives him unchecked authority over all three branches of government and absolves him of any legal responsibility for his actions. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/126662.aspx