Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said that terrorist elements were likely behind the April 10 clashes, resulting in 21 deaths and 800 injuries.

PM Abhisit told the nation in a televised speech on April 12 the government has identified a group of terrorists who mingled in with the “red-shirted” protesters, using them as a tool to create chaos, aiming to foment social upheaval.

The government is going to distinguish the terrorists from the "red-shirts" to implement proper measures to prevent chaos from occurring, and to ask the protesters not to let themselves to be the tools of the terrorists, he said.

PM Abhisit added that the government plans to establish an independent committee to investigate the case and support the families of the dead and injured as well as affected merchants.

The PM’s statement came just hours after his deputy, Suthep Thaugsuban, said terrorists were involved in the unexpected clashes between the “red-shirts” and troops in Bangkok .

In his speech, PM Abhisit also affirmed that the government will spare no efforts to reach a political resolution ahead of schedule, and the coalition-government, army and police have united together to bring the situation back to normal./.