BANGKOK: Thai army officers guarding checkpoints, government buildings and military bases during an anti-government rally will be armed from Monday due to recent grenade attacks, an army spokesman said.

"Starting from today, the military deployed at checkpoints, government buildings and military bases will be armed in order to prevent ill-intentioned people from inciting unrest," Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd told reporters.

"Because of the violent incidents in the past, including the (rocket-propelled grenade) attacks, the government is very concerned with the current situation so there is a need to adjust the security measures," he said.

Sunsern said that only army officers at the key locations would be armed.

Previously the 30,000 military personnel guarding the protests, which have stretched into their second week, were not armed.

Two small grenade blasts hit Bangkok and a nearby province shortly after tens of thousands of anti-government protesters held a peaceful parade through the capital Saturday. One person was slightly injured but damage was minor.

A week ago, four grenades exploded at a Bangkok military base, wounding two soldiers.