Thursday, 16 October 2008

Two soldiers killed in border fight

The Press Association

Two Cambodian soldiers have been killed in a border gun battle with Thai troops.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said that in addition to the two dead, two others had been wounded in fighting near a landmark 11th-century temple that lasted less than an hour.

Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkumnerd said five Thai soldiers were wounded, two fewer than earlier reported.

Cambodian army commander Brigadier General Yim Pim said fighting had "paused", and that commanders on the ground from both sides were trying to negotiate a ceasefire.

Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said the two countries' foreign ministers were talking to try to resolve the crisis.

The Thai army also stated its desire to end the dispute peacefully.

Both sides said the other fired first. It was not immediately clear how many troops were engaged in the shooting.

Hor Namhong said 10 Thai soldiers has surrendered, were being well-treated, and would be returned to Thailand, though he did not specify when.

The clash came a day after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum to Thailand to pull back its soldiers from disputed territory near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

The fighting was the latest flare-up in a decades-long dispute over a contested stretch of jungle near the Preah Vihear temple. The World Court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but sovereignty over some surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.

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