Thailand's military junta today announced the end of curfew nationwide.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) announced the lifting of the cufew this evening, but the football-crazy public have been lobbying for lifting of the curfew for a while now to enable them to watch the World Cup football matches outdoor.

Football is the top favourite sport in Thailand and during this time like many countries in Southeast Asia, probably billions of baht will change hands in betting by football fans and gamblers backing their favourite teams.

The NCPO said the lifting of the curfew nationwide was because of the improved situation and in order to improve tourism.

Curfew had been imposed in the country since the military staged a coup on May 22, but steadily eased or lifted as the situation was generally peaceful after the coup with just minor protests in some parts of the country.