Bangkok, April 2 (IANS): Martial law was lifted in Thailand on Wednesday with immediate effect, according to media reports.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej endorsed the request of Thailand Prime Minister and junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha to revoke martial law throughout the country, The Bangkok Post reported.

Thailand's ruling junta, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), announced that the royal approval abolished the Martial Law Act of May 20, 2014. It also revoked the NCPO's May 22, 2014 declaration of the use of martial law.

The lifting of martial law paved the way for Prayut to impose Section 44 of the interim constitution.

Section 44 enables the NCPO chief to exercise the powers of the executive, legislative and judicial branches, for the sake of national security, reform and unity. Such actions would be deemed lawful, constitutional and final.

With the martial law being revoked, it would be necessary for the authorities to take measures against actions that posed a threat to national order, peace and stability, defied NCPO orders and involved war weapons, said another announcement issued under Section 44 of the interim constitution, Xinhua reported.

The NCPO, which staged a coup to topple former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government in May, last year, is headed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Critics, especially in the international community, have voiced concerns that this will give Prayut absolute power.

The Thailand prime minister insists that military courts will remain, but will try only cases relating to national security.

Earlier, Prayut said that he would exercise his power under Section 44 constructively, and it would be used to deal with urgent problems like the ban on new flights by Thai-registered airlines to Japan, South Korea and China.