Additional military troops and police officers are standing guard at key locations throughout Bangkok

Thai officials announced that additional military troops and police officers are standing guard at key locations throughout Bangkok as a relative calm returned to the city on 8 October 2008. Street clashes occurred in Bangkok on 7 October as People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters staged several large demonstrations outside government buildings. Violence erupted when police officers and protesters clashed, resulting in police officers firing tear gas and protesters beating police officers with baseball bats and throwing miscellaneous objects at officials as they were advancing on the protesters to break up the demonstrations. Authorities stated that at least two people were killed and 400 injured in the violence but that police officers did not use any explosive devices. Eyewitnesses in the Thai capital stated that there have been no indications of renewed street clashes, although some PAD protesters remain camped out at the Government House, where supporters from other areas of Thailand joined them. Protest organizers told reporters that the PAD will continue anti-government protests until the government adopts significant electoral reforms. In another development, Chulalongkorn hospital doctors have boycotted the treatment of all police officers and have urged other hospitals to do the same. The doctors stated that this was done to punish the police officials for using excessive force during the protests.