US urges Thai-Cambodia restraint, undecided on UN

State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley

via CAAI

WASHINGTON — The United States called Monday for Thailand and Cambodia to show restraint after four days of cross-border fighting but took no stance on Phnom Penh's bid for UN involvement.

The United States has "raised our concerns with senior officials" in both Thailand and Cambodia, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.

"We continue to urge both sides to exercise maximum restraint and take all necessary steps to reduce tensions," he said.

Crowley said that the United States was "undecided" on whether the United Nations should be involved after Cambodia called for urgent action by the Security Council.

"We are discussing the best way forward within the Council," Crowley said.

Brazil, the president of the Security Council for February, said that members voiced "great concern" about the situation.

Thailand has called for a bilateral solution and criticized Cambodia over "internationalization" of the conflict, according to diplomats.

Each country has accused the other of provoking the violence near the disputed 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, which has claimed seven lives and displaced thousands.