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Gunfire on Thai-Cambodian border Clashes on Thai-Cambodian border
(about 2 hours later)
Troops from Thailand and Cambodia have exchanged heavy gunfire in a disputed border area, officials say. Troops from Thailand and Cambodia have exchanged heavy gunfire twice during the day in a disputed border area - the first such incident in six months.
It was the second exchange of fire on Friday near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear, which has been the scene of sporadic clashes in recent months. Both sides are reporting casualties but there are no confirmed details.
Officials could not confirm a report that two Cambodian soldiers had died. The second more serious outbreak of firing near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear broke out in the afternoon, despite both sides meeting for talks.
A Cambodian spokesman said troops first opened fire when Thai soldiers entered their territory. A Thai official called it a "misunderstanding". Each side accused the other of firing first. Thailand has played down the episode as a "misunderstanding".
The BBC's Guy Delauney in Phnom Penh says the clashes come just days ahead of fresh talks between the two sides. The BBC's Guy De Launey in Phnom Penh says the clashes come days before fresh talks between the two sides over the disputed territory.
The Cambodia-Thailand Joint Border Committee is expected to hold three days of talks over the dispute in the Cambodian resort town of Siem Reap, starting on Sunday. The Cambodia-Thailand Joint Border Committee is expected to hold three days of talks in the Cambodian resort town of Siem Reap, starting on Sunday.
Landmine injuryLandmine injury
The first, brief exchange of fire took place early on Friday. The first, brief exchange of fire took place early on Friday, in the disputed zone where opposing troops are sometimes stationed within metres of each other.
"The armed clash began when Thai soldiers entered Cambodian territory. We fired rockets at the Thai soldiers," Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan told Reuters news agency. Talks over lunch between the two sides' commanders were supposed to ease the tension, says our correspondent.
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 areaOct 2008: Troops exchange fire, leaving two Cambodian soldiers deadTEMPLE 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 areaOct 2008: Troops exchange fire, leaving two Cambodian soldiers dead
Seni Chittakasem, governor of Sisaket province in Thailand, said the incident happened inside the disputed area. But a Cambodian government official told the BBC that the second exchange was spread over a wider area and involved heavier weaponry than the morning incident.
"There is no report of loss [of life] on the Thai side and it's ended now," AFP news agency quoted him as saying. Both sides are reporting casualties but details of the dead and injured could not be immediately confirmed.
The fighting appeared to have started after a Thai patrol visited the site where a Thai soldier was injured after stepping on a landmine on Thursday.The fighting appeared to have started after a Thai patrol visited the site where a Thai soldier was injured after stepping on a landmine on Thursday.
"After talks between the two sides failed, the Cambodian side started to walk away and turned back to open fire at Thai troops with rifles and RPG rockets, forcing the Thai side to fire back in self-defence," said a statement from Thailand's foreign ministry."After talks between the two sides failed, the Cambodian side started to walk away and turned back to open fire at Thai troops with rifles and RPG rockets, forcing the Thai side to fire back in self-defence," said a statement from Thailand's foreign ministry.
"It was an accident, a misunderstanding among officials on the ground, which is common when you are closely positioned," said Thai Defense Minister Pravit Wongsuwan. "It was an accident, a misunderstanding among officials on the ground, which is common when you are closely positioned," said Thai Defence Minister Pravit Wongsuwan.
The second exchange reportedly involved the use of artillery. However, the Cambodian foreign ministry called it an "intended aggressive invasion by the Thai military", and said a letter of protest would be sent to Thailand.
Cambodian authorities said they could not confirm reports of two soldiers being killed. Thailand denied it had taken any casualties. Thailand and Cambodia share a border that runs for nearly 800km (500 miles), much of it heavily mined.
An international court awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962, but the land surrounding it remains the subject of rival territorial claims. An international court awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962, but a 5-sq-km (1.9-sq-mile) patch of land surrounding it remains the subject of rival territorial claims.
Soldiers from the two countries have been stationed in the area since tensions increased in July last year. Two Cambodian soldiers were killed at the site in October in a gun battle. Soldiers from the two countries have been stationed in the area since tensions increased in July last year, after it was listed by Cambodia as a World Heritage Site.
Last week, Cambodia accused Thai troops of crossing over briefly into its territory. Two Cambodian soldiers were killed there in October in a gun battle. Last week, Cambodia accused Thai troops of crossing over briefly into its territory.