A spokesman for the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) said the rally was called off due to ongoing religious ceremonies for the two protesters who died in the worst street violence in Thailand in 16 years.

'The national police headquarters is still on our name-and-shame list, but we are not going there today because we have rites to perform for our heroes,' PAD spokesman Suriyasai Katasila told reporters.

Around 500 people were hurt in the clashes on Oct 7, as well as dozens of police officers, including some who were shot and one who was skewered with a flag pole.

The demonstration had already been pushed back from Monday because of the funeral of one of the protesters killed during the clashes.

She died from chest injuries after police fired teargas into a crowd blockading parliament.

The protesters of the extra-parliamentary PAD see the ruling coalition as a puppet government for former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was toppled by the military in 2006 and is now in exile in London.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat expressed sorrow for the deaths and urged the PAD to leave the Government House compound that they have been occupying since August, forcing the government to work from a little-used airport.

The political crisis dates back to late 2005, when the PAD first started its street protests against Mr Thaksin. It has meandered through a military coup to elections and back to street protests, and shows no signs of resolution. -- REUTERS