Bangkok: Police warned students on Friday to avoid street protests after a gunman shot and wounded two students demonstrating against Thailand's prime minister,  raising new fears of violence in the country's tense political crisis.

Thailand's prime minister yesterday said he won't negotiate with a radical group that has occupied his office in a bid to oust him, as a new mediation effort by Parliament raised a glimmer of hope for ending the country's political crisis.

Emergency

About 100 students were marching to demonstrate outside Samak's home late Thursday when an unidentified gunman on the back of a motorcycle opened fire on the crowd, said police chief Col. Somsak Bunsaeng of the Ladprao station in northeast Bangkok.

One of the students was shot in his left leg, the other in his left arm.

Police said they were hospitalised but were not seriously hurt.

Anti-government protesters have occupied Samak's official headquarters, Government House, for 11 days, vowing not to leave until he resigns.

Samak imposed a state of emergency Tuesday after his opponents and supporters clashed near Government House in rioting that left one person dead and dozens wounded.