Thursday, 16 October 2008

Thailand-Cambodia agree to joint border patrols

Cambodian soldiers patrol on the road up to the famed Preah Vihear temple, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, near Thai border Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. Thai and Cambodian troops faced off at a disputed border zone as military officials from both sides headed for urgent peace talks, a day after a deadly gunbattle erupted near an 11th century temple.(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
Yahoo News
AP Associate Press

BANGKOK, Thailand - A Thai military official says Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to joint patrols at a disputed border to reduce the tension that a day earlier erupted into a gunbattle.

Thai army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkumnerd said the two sides agreed that joint patrols could "reduce chances of a misunderstanding that could lead to another clash."

The agreement came during talks between military commanders from both countries a day after the clash between troops at a disputed border killed at least two Cambodian soldiers and wounded 10 from both sides.

Cambodia's army commander said the two sides "agreed to prevent further armed clashes" but that talks would continue over the border dispute.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia (AP) — A Cambodian army official says Thai and Cambodian military commanders have agreed to stop fighting a day after a deadly gunbattle between troops at a disputed border.

The two sides held talks in Thailand's Sisaket province across the border from Cambodia a day after a clash between Thai and Cambodian troops that killed at least two Cambodian soldiers and wounded 10 from both sides.

The commander, Maj. Gen. Srey Doek, declined to give details of the talks. He said the two sides planned to continue negotiations, indicating that matters still needed to be resolved in a decades-long border dispute.

Wednesday's clash was the first deadly fighting since tension flared four months ago in a long-standing dispute over land near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

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