Thailand and Cambodia in fresh border clash

22 April 2011
BBC News

Unconfirmed reports, quoting a Thai army spokesman, said that one Thai soldier had been killed and seven more were wounded.

Each side has accused the other of starting the latest exchange.

Tensions have been high since a skirmish in February at the Preah Vihear temple, which is claimed by both countries.

The latest exchange was about 100km (62 miles) south-west of the temple.

Thailand said its troops had been on routine patrol and Cambodia fired first.

Cambodia said Thai troops had "again mounted aggressive attacks on Cambodian soldiers".

Cambodian defence ministry spokesman Lt Gen Chhum Socheat said the fighting took place at another temple in Ta Krabey that is also claimed by both countries. He said both sides had used rocket launchers, machine guns and rifles.

Indonesia, which has been mediating on behalf of regional bloc the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean), called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and expressed "profound concern".

At least 10 people were killed in clashes between the two neighbours in February, but recently an informal truce had appeared to be holding.

The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Bangkok says the latest firefight shows just how fragile that ceasefire was.

The clashes that erupted in early February over the 11th Century temple of Preah Vihear stoked nationalist sentiment on both sides.

The temple - high in mountains along the border between the two nations - was awarded to Cambodia in 1962 by an international court.

But both sides claim ownership of the surrounding area, and there have been several skirmishes there in recent years.

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