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| Gunfight on Thai-Cambodia border | Gunfight on Thai-Cambodia border |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thai and Cambodian soldiers have exchanged gunfire along a disputed section of their border, leaving two Cambodian soldiers killed. | |
| The clash, near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, has prompted Thailand to urge its nationals to leave Cambodia. | The clash, near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, has prompted Thailand to urge its nationals to leave Cambodia. |
| Tensions have been high since July, when hundreds of soldiers on both sides faced off metres apart. | Tensions have been high since July, when hundreds of soldiers on both sides faced off metres apart. |
| Both countries claim they own the area around the temple, which recently became a Unesco World Heritage site. | Both countries claim they own the area around the temple, which recently became a Unesco World Heritage site. |
| Officials from both countries have said the other side fired first. | Officials from both countries have said the other side fired first. |
| Temple tensions | Temple tensions |
| The exchanges of small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades were reported to continue for about one hour. | The exchanges of small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades were reported to continue for about one hour. |
| The Cambodian military said two of its soldiers had been killed while Thai officials said four of theirs had been wounded. | |
| A Cambodian army official told the Associated Press news agency that commanders from both sides were trying to negotiate a ceasefire. | A Cambodian army official told the Associated Press news agency that commanders from both sides were trying to negotiate a ceasefire. |
| Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said the fighting was "small scale" and that he was committed to reaching a settlement over the issue. | Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said the fighting was "small scale" and that he was committed to reaching a settlement over the issue. |
| Political tensions driving temple rowIn pictures: Preah Vihear | Political tensions driving temple rowIn pictures: Preah Vihear |
| After the fighting broke out, Thailand alerted air force jets and readied transport planes to evacuate Thai nationals from Cambodia. | After the fighting broke out, Thailand alerted air force jets and readied transport planes to evacuate Thai nationals from Cambodia. |
| The military stand-off began in July when Cambodian troops detained three Thai protesters who had entered the site illegally. | The military stand-off began in July when Cambodian troops detained three Thai protesters who had entered the site illegally. |
| More than 1,000 soldiers from both countries moved into the area, digging trenches into the rough terrain around the temple. | More than 1,000 soldiers from both countries moved into the area, digging trenches into the rough terrain around the temple. |
| August saw an agreement to withdraw most of the troops from the area but tensions flared again recently. | August saw an agreement to withdraw most of the troops from the area but tensions flared again recently. |
| One Cambodian and two Thai soldiers were wounded in an exchange of gunfire earlier in October. | One Cambodian and two Thai soldiers were wounded in an exchange of gunfire earlier in October. |
| 'Death zone' | 'Death zone' |
| The two sides have already held several rounds of talks on the issue, but have failed to reach a settlement. | The two sides have already held several rounds of talks on the issue, but have failed to reach a settlement. |
| They agreed in August to reduce troop numbers, but last week Cambodia said that 500 Thai troops had massed in the area. | They agreed in August to reduce troop numbers, but last week Cambodia said that 500 Thai troops had massed in the area. |
| TEMPLE DISPUTE TIMELINE 1962: International court awards temple to Cambodia, but surrounding land remains undesignated1970s-1990s: Khmer Rouge guerrillas occupy site2001-2002: Thai troops block access over water rowJuly 2008: Unesco lists temple as a World Heritage SiteJuly 2008: Thai FM quits after court rules he violated constitution for backing Cambodia's Unesco bidJuly 2008: Both sides move troops to temple area | TEMPLE DISPUTE TIMELINE 1962: International court awards temple to Cambodia, but surrounding land remains undesignated1970s-1990s: Khmer Rouge guerrillas occupy site2001-2002: Thai troops block access over water rowJuly 2008: Unesco lists temple as a World Heritage SiteJuly 2008: Thai FM quits after court rules he violated constitution for backing Cambodia's Unesco bidJuly 2008: Both sides move troops to temple area |
| On Tuesday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to turn the area into a "death zone" if the Thai troops did not withdraw. | On Tuesday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to turn the area into a "death zone" if the Thai troops did not withdraw. |
| Thailand denied that its troops had entered Cambodian territory. | Thailand denied that its troops had entered Cambodian territory. |
| The stand-off between the two countries centres on 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment dividing the countries. | The stand-off between the two countries centres on 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment dividing the countries. |
| The temple is only accessible from Thailand and the area around it is heavily mined - a legacy of Cambodia's long war against the Khmer Rouge guerrillas. | The temple is only accessible from Thailand and the area around it is heavily mined - a legacy of Cambodia's long war against the Khmer Rouge guerrillas. |
| An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but land surrounding it remains the subject of rival territorial claims. | An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but land surrounding it remains the subject of rival territorial claims. |
| The decision by the UN in June to list Preah Vihear as a Unesco World Heritage Site reignited lingering nationalist tensions over the issue. | The decision by the UN in June to list Preah Vihear as a Unesco World Heritage Site reignited lingering nationalist tensions over the issue. |
| Disputes between the two countries date back centuries when the Thai and Khmer monarchs fought each other for territory and power. | Disputes between the two countries date back centuries when the Thai and Khmer monarchs fought each other for territory and power. |
| In 2003, the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh was torched by rioters angry over the alleged comments of a Thai actress who said that the Angkor Wat temple complex should be returned to Thailand. | In 2003, the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh was torched by rioters angry over the alleged comments of a Thai actress who said that the Angkor Wat temple complex should be returned to Thailand. |
| Are you in the vicinity of the Thai-Cambodian border? Have you heard or witnessed hostilities between troops? Send us your comments and experiences. | Are you in the vicinity of the Thai-Cambodian border? Have you heard or witnessed hostilities between troops? Send us your comments and experiences. |