A fire has broken out at a major shopping centre complex in Thailand's capital, killing at least two people and injuring more than a dozen, officials said.

Thailand’s military government sent thousands of troops and police into central Bangkok yesterday, stifling any mass dissent against the army’s coup on May 22 and limiting protesters to small gatherings held mostly around shopping malls.

CENTRAL Bangkok became a flaming battleground yesterday as an army assault forced anti-government protest leaders to surrender, enraging followers who shot grenades and set fire to landmark buildings, cloaking the skyline in black smoke.

Central Bangkok became a flaming battleground today as an army assault forced anti-government protest leaders to surrender, enraging followers who shot grenades and set fire to landmark buildings, cloaking the skyline in black smoke.

Central Bangkok became a battleground today as the army stormed a barricaded protest camp and the Red Shirt leadership surrendered, enraging demonstrators who fired grenades and started fires that cloaked the skyline in a black haze.