Troops have been deployed across the Thai capital, Bangkok, to quell anti-government protests that have left at least one person dead and hundreds injured.

One female protester was killed during clashes with police, and a man was also killed in a car bombing near the protest site, although it's unclear if the blast was related.

Police say eight officers were also shot or stabbed in the unrest, which capped months of demonstrations aimed at removing Thailand's elected government because of its ties to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat - who has only been in his position for three weeks - says he will not declare a state of emergency or resign.

Negotiator resigns
Earlier, Thailand's prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat, held an emergency meeting with the country's military leaders after the man tasked by the Thai prime minister to end a six-week occupation of the main government compound by anti government protesters resigned.

Deputy prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh says he resigned because his role as chief negotiator with demonstrators had been compromised by police who twice fired teargas to disperse crowds on Tuesday morning.

Our reporter Karen Percy says people were hit by metal shrapnel when the police hurled tear gas and smoke bomb canisters into the crowd of thousands of protesters who had barricaded the roads around the national parliament.

The protesters are from a group calling itself the People's Alliance for Democracy, which has waged a four month long campaign against the government.

They were trying to prevent the government from delivering a key policy speech today.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Chavalit Yongchaiwuth, was leading government negotiations with the group.

Now he's taken responsibility for the violence and has resigned.

Mr Somchai was able to deliver his speech, but was forced to leave the compound through a back entrance after the protesters blocked off all exits.

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