Saturday, 5 February 2011

Thai army chief seeks end to Cambodia border clash

via CAAI

BANGKOK | Fri Feb 4, 2011 6:16am EST

BANGKOK Feb 4 (Reuters) - A clash beteween Thai and Cambodian troops in a border area on Friday "seems to have been a misunderstanding", Thailand's army chief said, adding that he was in talks with his Cambodian counterpart to stop the fighting.

"It seems to have been a result of a misunderstanding. Right now there is ongoing talks between army chiefs on both sides," Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters.

Witnesses said fighting in the area had stopped.

Thai and Cambodian soldiers earlier exchanged fire for several hours in a 4.6-sq km (1.8 sq mile) disputed area around Preah Vihear temple, a jungle-clad escarpment claimed by both Southeast Asian countries and the scene of sporadic, deadly clashes in recent years.

Cambodian police said two Cambodian soldiers had been killed and two wounded. Five Thai soldiers had been captured, said Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd. (Reporting by Ambika Ahuja. Editing by Jason Szep)

No comments: