Phnom Penh - Cambodia still hoped to hold bilateral talks next week to defuse tensions over an ongoing border dispute despite continued political turmoil in Thailand, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Wednesday.

"We have prepared and we remain ready for the scheduled bilateral talks with Thailand," Kanharith said by telephone.

Bangkok - Thai shares lost 6.88 per cent Wednesday on pessimism about the US financial crisis and 700-billion-dollar bail-out.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index ended at 492.34, down 36.37 points or 6.88 per cent, crashing past the 500-point psychological barrier.

The freefall followed a day of bloody street fighting in the capital Tuesday that left two dead and 437 injured, but the hubbub had quieted down by Wednesday.

Bangkok- A showdown in Bangkok between police and protestors around Parliament claimed two dead and 437 injured, public health officials said Wednesday.

Bangkok - An anti-government protest turned bloody Tuesday, claiming at least one dead and about a hundred injured as police confronted followers of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to help legislators first get in and then get out of Parliament.

Bangkok - While most Asian bourses rebounded Tuesday, Thailand's market dropped more than 4 per cent on concerns over ongoing political chaos in the streets.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand index ended at 528.71, down 23.09 points or 4.18 per cent.

"Everywhere else bourses were rebounding except here, because of the political situation," said Phuwadol Labudomsak, an analyst at Asia Plus Securities.

Thailand was rocked by a new wave of political chaos Tuesday when anti-government protestors surrounded Parliament after police failed to disperse them with tear gas. The violent clashes left one person dead and at least 70 injured, including three who lost limbs from explosions.

Bangkok - An anti-government protest turned bloody Tuesday, claiming at least one dead and about a hundred injured as police confronted followers of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to help legislators first get in and then get out of Parliament.

Riot police early Tuesday scattered thousands of PAD followers who had laid siege to Parliament, firing teargas into the crowd, injuring about 70 people, in order to clear a path for members of the lower and upper houses to hold a session to announce the new government's policy statement.

The teargas assault allowed the legislators into Parliament but failed to disperse the protestors.