BANGKOK, Thailand - April 13, 2009 - Two people have been killed in Bangkok today as roughly 5,000 protesters took on the Thai army in violent demonstrations against the government.

The eruption of violence in Bangkok has prompted the UK Foreign Office to warn against travel to the capital.

Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey said the fighting is happening around a market between area residents and hundreds of red-shirted anti-government protesters.

He told a local television station that two people had been wounded in the confrontation. The fighting took place near the protesters' stronghold outside the prime minister's offices.

Dr. Chatri Charoenchivakul of the official Erawan Emergency Coordination Center said the victim was shot in the chest and two other people were wounded by gunshots.

The deaths came amid claims the Thai army was firing hundreds of rounds of live ammunition - some into crowds - in a desperate attempt to contain the mass anti-government riots.

The army fired on protesters forcing them to abandon a blockade of a key traffic junction in a first show of strength since an emergency was declared.

The red-shirted protesters had torched a bus and thrown scores of Molotov cocktails at security forces faced off at Din Daeng junction before the army finally retaliated, witnesses said.

Bangkok Medical Center director Peeraphong Saicheau said 77 people were injured in clashes at the junction, which began just before dawn. Two civilians and two soldiers had gunshot wounds.

The junction is a crucial part of Bangkok's traffic system, although Monday is the start of a three-day holiday for the Thai New Year and many people have already left for the provinces.

Financial markets are shut until Thursday because of the holiday.