Cambodia, Thailand in talks after border clash

Cambodia and Thailand said Sunday they will hold several high-level meetings among efforts to ease tension on their disputed border after fighting killed at least two Thai soldiers.

The two soldiers were killed Friday when troops from both countries fought heavy gunbattles in the worst clashes for six months over disputed territory near an 11th century temple on their shared border.

"We held the meeting in order to make the situation return to normal and to make sure there's no more gunfire. We have agreed to stay on our own sides of the border," said Cambodian Major General Srey Doek after holding talks in disputed territory with his Thai counterpart.

While the commanders sat down to cordial talks over lunch, Thai Major General Kanok Netrak Thavesanak said officials from his country would Sunday meet Cambodian Prime Ministeer Hun Sen in Phnom Penh.

Cambodian cabinet spokesman Phay Siphan told AFP the meeting would focus on the recent violence.

"A Thai official is going to meet the Cambodian prime minister today and they will talk about the clashes that happened two days earlier," Cambodian cabinet spokesman Phay Siphan told AFP.

Thailand will also seek to discuss the deadly clash when the leaders of the two neighbours meet at a regional summit this week, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday.

The shooting erupted days before a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its regional partners in the Thai beach resort of Pattaya from April 10-12.

"This will be raised at next week's meeting to find a solution to the problem," Thai premier Abhisit said in his weekly television broadcast.

"It is sad for those who lost their lives. We will speed up the return of the situation to normal and resume the talking process as soon as possible," Abhisit added.

The two countries are also set to hold talks Monday and Tuesday in Phnom Penh about the situation on their border, which had been arranged before last week's clashes.

Both Abhisit and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen Saturday sought to play down the latest crisis, although troops from both sides remain on standby at the border.

While tensions had eased noticeably at the border, Cambodian troops said they remained alert against any Thai incursions.

"The situation is not escalating, but if the Thais try to enter the banned area something might happen. If they don't come, there will be no problems," commander Bun Thean told AFP Sunday.

Foot soldiers patrolling the area said they would fight to the death to protect the ancient temple, which is perched on a forested cliff overlooking green swathes of countryside.

"We are not afraid of Thai soldiers. Everything happened because Thai soldiers want to take our temple and land," said Cambodian soldier Chum Chuon as he patrolled the ancient Khmer temple.

"We will protect our temple even if we have to die. If they dare to enter our territory and temple, we will immediately attack them," he said.

The area was the scene of several clashes last year after the United Nations agency Unesco in July granted Cambodia world heritage status for the ruins. In October, four soldiers were killed in a battle.

Friday's violence damaged a government office and destroyed a local market. Hundreds of Cambodians who lost their homes in the fighting were evacuated to a school 20 kilometres (12 miles) away.

In 1962 the World Court awarded the ruins to Cambodia, but the most accessible entrance is from Thailand and the two countries still dispute ownership of the surrounding land.