Thailand's army returned to the streets of Bangkok yesterday after more than 12 hours of clashes between police and anti-government protesters left two people dead and at least 380 injured.

The violence was the culmination of a six-week stand-off between protesters organised by the People's Alliance for Democracy and the new government of Somchai Wangsawat, the prime minister, whom they accuse of corruption and allegiance to Thaksin Shinawatra, the former leader now in exile in Britain.