WASHINGTON - THE United States on Monday condemned violence by anti-government protesters in Thailand and urged Americans visiting Bangkok to exercise caution.

State Department spokesman Robert Wood said the United States is watching events 'very closely' in Thailand, where two people died as anti-government protesters battled soldiers and Bangkok residents.

The United States condemns 'this unacceptable violence by the protesters,' Mr Wood told reporters.

He said the United States urged the 'protesters and their leaders to foreswear additional... use of violence, to exercise their right to assembly, but... to do so... peacefully.'

Mr Wood said he believed the US embassy in Bangkok was in contact with Thai authorities.

'Our desire to see tensions reduced and for there not to be violence - that's something that certainly the government of Thailand knows is the position of the United States,' he said.

The State Department warned citizens visiting Thailand that 'demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.'

'American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations and to exercise caution anywhere in Bangkok,' it said in a message to US travelers.

However, the department stopped short of recommending Americans not to go to Bangkok, warnings given by Australia and Britain to their own nationals.

The United States is the fifth biggest source of foreign tourists to Thailand after Japan, Britain, China and Germany, according to official Thai figures for February. -- AFP