BANGKOK - THAILAND'S media blamed police action on Wednesday for bloody street violence that led to at least one protester being killed and hundreds injured.

The English-language Bangkok Post said the capital had been taken to the 'Brink of anarchy,' announcing that the 'Police worsen a bad situation.'

'There can be no justification for the authorities to have used such force to disperse the peaceful crowd,' the paper said, after thousands of officers fired rounds of tear gas on anti-government demonstrators.

'Bloodbath in Bangkok,' declared the capital's other English daily, The Nation, describing scenes a day earlier as a 'mini civil war' before asking: 'So whose side is the military on?'

Troops from the army, navy and air force were deployed at the request of police onto Bangkok's streets on Tuesday night to protect key government buildings ? but the army chief has declared there will be no military coup.

Thai language newspaper Matichon Daily's editorial said the violence had tarnished the country's reputation.

'How can Thai people explain this incident to others? The clashes have already embarrassed the country Worldwide, showing (we think) only violence will make talks happen,' it said.

The kingdom's major business daily, Krungthep Thurakij, called on the government to take responsibility for the violent crackdown.

'Using force to crack down on protesters should be a last resort measure after talks have failed ? but the talks here never took place,' it said.

Government medical officials said 428 people were injured in the violence, which came after police attempted to disperse thousands of protesters surrounding parliament to try to prevent Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from giving his first policy speech. -- AFP