Cambodian soldiers on patrol near the Preah Vihear temple in JulyPHNOM PENH (AFP) — At least three soldiers were injured when Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged gunfire Friday at the countries' disputed border near an ancient temple, Cambodian and Thai officials said.
The governor of Thailand's Si Sa Ket border province said the incident, which lasted less than three minutes, left two Thai soldiers injured.
"It's happened around 3:45 pm (0845 GMT) in the disputed area and lasted for two to three minutes," Seni Chittakasem told AFP.
"Two of our troops were slightly wounded, and I heard three soldiers on the Cambodian side were wounded. The situation has returned to normal now," he said.
Cambodian officials said only one of their soldiers was hurt. They said the incident took place after a dozen Thai soldiers crossed into disputed territory near Preah Vihear temple.
"There was a clash but we don't know how many Thai soldiers got injured. On the Cambodian side, one soldier was injured in his left hand," said Hang Soth, director general of the Preah Vihear authority, the body tasked with conservation of the ancient Khmer site.
The Thai troops were stopped and turned back by Cambodian soldiers, said a Cambodian border police official on condition of anonymity.
Thai soldiers opened fire after re-entering their territory, first with M-79 rockets and M-16 assault rifles, the police official said.
Cambodian troops responded by shooting a single B-40 rocket and then opening fire with their AK-47 rifles, the official added.
Thai officials refused to comment on the reports late Friday afternoon.
The incident comes as both countries attempted to progress talks to resolve the decades-long border dispute. A visit by new Thai prime minister Somchai Wongsawat to Cambodia is scheduled for October 13.
Nationalist tensions over the Preah Vihear temple turned into a military standoff in July, in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six weeks.
Both sides agreed to pull back in mid-August, leaving only twenty troops from each side stationed at a small pagoda in the border area, while 40 Cambodian and Thai solders remain nearby.
Much of the Cambodian-Thai border remains in dispute, and the slow pace of clearing old landmines from the area has delayed its demarcation.
The governor of Thailand's Si Sa Ket border province said the incident, which lasted less than three minutes, left two Thai soldiers injured.
"It's happened around 3:45 pm (0845 GMT) in the disputed area and lasted for two to three minutes," Seni Chittakasem told AFP.
"Two of our troops were slightly wounded, and I heard three soldiers on the Cambodian side were wounded. The situation has returned to normal now," he said.
Cambodian officials said only one of their soldiers was hurt. They said the incident took place after a dozen Thai soldiers crossed into disputed territory near Preah Vihear temple.
"There was a clash but we don't know how many Thai soldiers got injured. On the Cambodian side, one soldier was injured in his left hand," said Hang Soth, director general of the Preah Vihear authority, the body tasked with conservation of the ancient Khmer site.
The Thai troops were stopped and turned back by Cambodian soldiers, said a Cambodian border police official on condition of anonymity.
Thai soldiers opened fire after re-entering their territory, first with M-79 rockets and M-16 assault rifles, the police official said.
Cambodian troops responded by shooting a single B-40 rocket and then opening fire with their AK-47 rifles, the official added.
Thai officials refused to comment on the reports late Friday afternoon.
The incident comes as both countries attempted to progress talks to resolve the decades-long border dispute. A visit by new Thai prime minister Somchai Wongsawat to Cambodia is scheduled for October 13.
Nationalist tensions over the Preah Vihear temple turned into a military standoff in July, in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for six weeks.
Both sides agreed to pull back in mid-August, leaving only twenty troops from each side stationed at a small pagoda in the border area, while 40 Cambodian and Thai solders remain nearby.
Much of the Cambodian-Thai border remains in dispute, and the slow pace of clearing old landmines from the area has delayed its demarcation.
1 comment:
I want to say fucking asshole Siem soldies.You think Cambodian soldiers scaring you about fighting asshole.We have been almost 40 years about war. We got enough about that asshole.You asshole(Siem soldiers) you listening to the government.If we don't listen to our government we fight you right away sinced you got in our land asshole!!!!.
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