'The government must take responsibility for what they have implemented. It must investigate how things went wrong after it issued the order (for police to disperse crowds) and then consult among themselves how to take responsibility,' General Anupong Paojinda told Thailand's Channel 3 television.

'There are many ways for the government to be responsible in order to help the country move on,' Gen Anupong added.

On Tuesday, police fired tear gas on demonstrators who had blockaded parliament to protest the government's plans to amend the country's constitution, a move they say is aimed at helping ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thousands of supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy, who accuse Mr Thaksin and his government allies of corruption, marched to parliament where Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat - Mr Thaksin's brother-in-law - was delivering his first policy address.

Bloody clashes that followed between the protesters and police left two dead and at least 478 people injured in the worst street violence in Bangkok in 16 years.

Mr Somchai has since announced an independent investigation into the incident.

Despite the intractable conflict between protesters and the government, the army chief continued to rule out another military takeover in the coup-prone kingdom.

'To launch a coup at this time will not solve the problem... except to achieve the primary goal of... easing the situation, but I don't think it would solve the whole problem so the army's stance is no coup,' Gen Anupong said. -- AFP