No short trips to Bangkok for a good while

Tensions remained high on the bloodstained streets of Bangkok after the country's worst political violence in almost two decades left 21 dead and over 800 injured. Protest leaders have promised to maintain their campaign until the government dissolves parliament and calls fresh elections despite the deaths of 17 civilians and 4 soldiers in last Saturday's clashes.

The Red Shirt protesters, supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, maintain they want Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down and leave the country.

On last Sunday evening, Reds gathered to mourn the loss of their comrades at the city's Democracy Monument - the scene of a fierce battle on Saturday - where grieving relatives led a procession holding gold-framed pictures of the dead. They were followed by weeping men carrying caskets, a couple containing bodies draped with Thai flags and flowers.

It is the latest chapter in years of turmoil pitting the ruling elite against the mainly poor and rural Reds, who say the government is illegitimate as it came to power in 2008 after a court ousted Thaksin's allies from power. Saturday's violence erupted when troops tried to clear one of two sites in the centre of the capital occupied by the protesters for the past month.

Soldiers fired in the air and used tear gas while the Reds responded by hurling rocks. As the clashes intensified gunshots echoed around the city and both sides accused the other of using live ammunition. Emergency services said two protesters were killed by gunshot wounds to the head. The army later retreated, calling for a truce with the demonstrators, who were holding five soldiers hostage.

The government said an investigation had been launched into the violence and that negotiations were under way to bring about a resolution to the stand-off without further unrest. The protesters called on the country's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej to intervene to prevent further bloodshed. Tensions briefly escalated again late Sunday as around 200 Reds drove motorcycles to a nearby bridge, on apparently unfounded rumours that the army was approaching.

Thai flags, red roses and incense sticks were placed on pools of blood where protesters were killed or wounded in the Khaosan Road backpacker district, a few yards from a number of ruined cars with their windows smashed in.