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Talks on Thai-Cambodia temple row Progress in Thai-Cambodia talks
(about 2 hours later)
Generals from Thailand and Cambodia have been holding talks in an attempt to resolve a border dispute which led to soldiers exchanging fire. Generals from Thailand and Cambodia have been holding talks in an attempt to resolve a border dispute that led to soldiers exchanging fire.
Officials from both sides have pledged to solve the problem peacefully. Both sides say progress has been made, with a Thai army commander saying they have agreed to establish joint patrols to avoid further violent clashes.
Cambodia claims two of its soldiers were killed on Wednesday in clashes near the ancient Preah Vihear temple. Cambodia alleges two of its soldiers were killed on Wednesday in clashes near the ancient Preah Vihear temple.
Thailand and Cambodia both claim they own the area around the temple, which became a Unesco World Heritage site in June, reigniting cross-border tensions. Thailand and Cambodia both claim the area around the temple.
Since then, the two sides have held several rounds of talks to resolve the issue, but failed to reach a settlement. The area is prized in part because the temple became a Unesco World Heritage site in June and the site could offer lucrative tourist revenues.
UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply concerned" by the violence. The two sides have held several rounds of talks to resolve the issue, but have failed to reach a settlement.
Earlier UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply concerned" by the violence.
'Not an invasion''Not an invasion'
Both sides played down the prospect of an escalated conflict as the talks got under way near the temple site. Cambodian army commander Maj Gen Srey Doek and Thailand's Lt Gen Wiboonsak Neeparn were quoted as saying steps had been made towards ending the armed conflict.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said the negotiations were a good sign, and described the clash as "an incident between soldiers and not an invasion by Thailand". "We will introduce the joint patrol to avoid this kind of incident happening again," Lt Gen Wiboonsak told reporters.
New conflict near ancient ruinsIn pictures: Preah Vihear "Our policy to resolve this conflict is through negotiations," Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat told reporters from Bangkok. New conflict near ancient ruinsIn pictures: Preah Vihear
But there were few other details of progress, with Maj Gen Srey Doek saying negotiations would continue.
Earlier Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat played down the prospect of an escalated conflict.
But people on the streets of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, were angry.But people on the streets of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, were angry.
"If the Thais continue their attempt to cross our border, I am ready to join the army to fight back," security guard Bun Roeun told Reuters news agency."If the Thais continue their attempt to cross our border, I am ready to join the army to fight back," security guard Bun Roeun told Reuters news agency.
Hundreds of Cambodian civilians have fled the border area after Wednesday's gunfight, and the fighting also prompted Thailand to urge its nationals to leave Cambodia. Hundreds of Cambodian civilians fled the border area after Wednesday's gunfight, and the fighting also prompted Thailand to urge its nationals to leave Cambodia.
According to the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head, the Thai government is nervous about committing itself to any deal over the border, for fear of stirring up more nationalist anger, or of violating the constitution, which it was judged to have done when it initially supported Cambodia's bid to get World Heritage status for the temple.According to the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head, the Thai government is nervous about committing itself to any deal over the border, for fear of stirring up more nationalist anger, or of violating the constitution, which it was judged to have done when it initially supported Cambodia's bid to get World Heritage status for the temple.
But Cambodia needs a deal soon if it is to present its management plan for the site by the World Heritage Committee's deadline of February next year.But Cambodia needs a deal soon if it is to present its management plan for the site by the World Heritage Committee's deadline of February next year.
The temple sits on top of a 500m cliff, and access from the Cambodian side will still be impractical for tourists unless a new route can be built through the disputed territory, our correspondent says.The temple sits on top of a 500m cliff, and access from the Cambodian side will still be impractical for tourists unless a new route can be built through the disputed territory, our correspondent says.
'Death zone''Death zone'
Both sides claim the other opened fire first on Wednesday, in an exchange that lasted about an hour. Both sides claim the other opened fire first on Wednesday.
Cambodian authorities said two soldiers had been killed and two wounded, while Thai officials said five Thai troops had been wounded. Cambodian authorities said two soldiers had been killed and two wounded, while Thai officials said five Thai troops had been wounded, in the hour-long exchange.
Cambodia also claimed that 10 Thai soldiers had been captured, but this was denied by Bangkok.Cambodia also claimed that 10 Thai soldiers had been captured, but this was denied by Bangkok.
TEMPLE DISPUTE TIMELINE 1970s-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 areaAugust 2008: Troops withdrawn after high-level talksOctober 2008: Fighting erupts around temple areaTEMPLE DISPUTE TIMELINE 1970s-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 areaAugust 2008: Troops withdrawn after high-level talksOctober 2008: Fighting erupts around temple area
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.
Both sides agreed in August to withdraw their personnel, but last week Cambodia claimed that Thai troops had returned, and Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to turn the area into a "death zone" if they did not withdraw.Both sides agreed in August to withdraw their personnel, but last week Cambodia claimed that Thai troops had returned, and Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened to turn the area into a "death zone" if they did not withdraw.
The dispute centres on 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.The dispute centres on 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.
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.
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.