Thailand

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has assumed emergency powers over Thailand's three Muslim-dominated southern provinces. He assumed the powers at a cabinet meeting after two policemen were killed and 23 wounded during an attack in mid-July. More than 800 people have now been killed since the violence began in January 2004. The 'Emergency Powers Law', which will replace localised martial law in the three provinces, give Thaksin the power to censure news reports, order phone taps, and detain suspects without charge. The new laws have been strongly criticised by human-rights groups and by some newspaper editors.

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