Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said that 'terrorists' were behind civil unrest in Bangkok over the weekend that left 21 people dead and more than 800 injured.
'From the overall picture we clearly found that terrorists used pro-democracy protestors to incite the unrest, hoping for total change in our country,' Mr Vejjajiva said in a nationally televised address.
'We have to differentiate innocent people from terrorists and then we can map out further measures,' he said, adding that peaceful protestors' demands for democracy should be addressed through politics.
Saturday's violence erupted when troops tried to clear one of two sites in the centre of the city that have been occupied by the 'Red Shirt' protestors for the past month.
As the clashes intensified, gunshots were heard around the city and both sides accused the other of using live ammunition.
Emergency services confirmed that two protestors were killed by gunshot wounds to the head.
The authorities also said assault rifles and grenades were used by some demonstrators.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said: 'I didn't think among protestors there would be people using heavy weapons, such as M16 and AK47 assault rifles and grenades. The military also suffered heavy losses.'
17 civilians, including a Japanese cameraman, and four soldiers were killed after the army launched a crackdown on the supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
This morning members of the Red Shirts have paraded the bodies of dead protestors and empty coffins though Bangkok.
The protestors vowed to continue their attempt to overthrow the government of Mr Vejjajiva.
Pick-up trucks carrying two bodies and 14 empty caskets draped with Thai flags led a procession of cars, trucks and taxis filled with Red Shirts that snaked its way through central Bangkok.
