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Progress in Thai-Cambodia talks Small step in Thai-Cambodia talks
(about 4 hours later)
Generals from Thailand and Cambodia have been holding talks in an attempt to resolve a border dispute that 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 a fatal exchange of fire on Wednesday.
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. Reports say both sides have agreed to joint border patrols as a way to ease the tensions.
Cambodia alleges two of its soldiers were killed on Wednesday in clashes near the ancient Preah Vihear temple. But there are no reports of further advances, such as reducing troops in the zone or making headway on the core issue of settling the border.
Thailand and Cambodia both claim the area around the temple. At least two Cambodian troops died in the clash near the Preah Vihear temple.
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. Two Cambodian soldiers were injured, along with seven Thai troops, in the skirmish, which lasted less than an hour.
The two sides have held several rounds of talks to resolve the issue, but have failed to reach a settlement. Both countries claim the area around the temple, and despite several rounds of talks a settlement remains elusive.
Earlier UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply concerned" by the violence. The issue of ownership is partly a nationalist one, but the area is also prized because the temple became a Unesco World Heritage site in June and the site could one day generate lucrative tourist revenues.
'Not an invasion' The UN, US, EU and China have all called for restraint, and Indonesia is said to have offered to mediate in the border talks.
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. Small step
"We will introduce the joint patrol to avoid this kind of incident happening again," Lt Gen Wiboonsak told reporters. "We will introduce the joint patrol to avoid this kind of incident happening again," Lieutenant General Wiboonsak Neeparn, Thailand's north-eastern army commander, was quoted as saying after the five-hour meeting.
New conflict near ancient ruinsIn pictures: Preah VihearNew conflict near ancient ruinsIn pictures: Preah Vihear
But there were few other details of progress, with Maj Gen Srey Doek saying negotiations would continue. But he also suggested "not much" progress had been made, pointing out "troops on both sides will stay where they are", a report said.
Earlier Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat played down the prospect of an escalated conflict. Cambodian commander Maj Gen Srey Doek said negotiations would continue.
But people on the streets of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, were angry. Meanwhile, there is confusion over the fate of 13 Thai soldiers Cambodia claimed it captured during Wednesday's confrontation.
"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. Cambodia says it has returned the men's weapons and released them. Thailand however continues to deny any of its soldiers were ever held.
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. Nationalist passions
Senior government figures on both sides have called for negotiations to continue, and played down Wednesday's confrontation.Thousands of Cambodians have fled the area
But the incident prompted thousands of Cambodians to flee their homes, and some reports say Cambodian military reinforcements are still being dispatched to the disputed zone.
Meanwhile the issue continues to stoke fervent nationalist passions. In the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, security guard Bun Roeun told Reuters news agency he was angry.
"If the Thais continue their attempt to cross our border, I am ready to join the army to fight back," he said.
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. The military stand-off began in July when Cambodian troops detained three Thai protesters who had entered the site illegally. 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 area
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.
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 area
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.