English.news.cn
2011-02-05
PHNOM PENH, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- A military clash between Cambodian and Thai troops near the 11th-century disputed temple in border area left both side's soldiers killed and wounded Friday afternoon, a top government official said.
"In the clash, one Cambodian soldier was killed and four others wounded, while seven Thai soldiers were killed in the battle in Cambodian territory," the official, who asked for anonymity, told Xinhua.
The military clash began at 3 p.m. and ended at 5:45 p.m. on Friday and heavy weapons, including rockets, machine guns and mortars, and artillery, were used in the fire exchange.
The incident was the latest in a long-festering dispute over the cliff-top Preah Vihear temple on the Cambodian side.
The incident happened coincided with the visit of Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya in Cambodia for the seventh meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said on Friday evening at Phnom Penh International Airport that Cambodia would file a complaint to the U.N. Security Council over the "Thai invasion" into Cambodian territory at the Beehive area at the border nearby Preah Vihear temple.
Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict due to Thai claim of the ownership of 4.6-sq-km scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.
Editor: Mu Xuequan
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