Troops from Thailand, Cambodia in border clash

[Guest guest]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110422/ap_on_re_as/as_thailand_cambodia_clash;_ylt=\

ApIDP57wRzgiJgrxmRYav3dH_rl_;_ylu=X3oDMTNlOTNhMDM2BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTEwNDIyL2FzX3\

RoYWlsYW5kX2NhbWJvZGlhX2NsYXNoBGNjb2RlA21wX2VjXzhfMTAEY3BvcwM3BHBvcwM3BHNlYwN5bl\

90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDdHJvb3BzZnJvbXRo

Troops from Thailand, Cambodia in border clash

By THANYARAT DOKSONE and SOPHENG CHEANG, Associated Press Thanyarat Doksone And

Sopheng Cheang, Associated Press – 28 mins ago

BANGKOK – A long-running border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia flared

anew Friday, with troops from the two Southeast Asian countries exchanging fire

along their disputed frontier, security officials from both nations said.

The Thai army said one of its soldiers had been killed and five injured in the

clash. It was the first skirmish reported since the two sides exchanged

artillery and gunfire for four straight days in February at the 11th century

Preah Vihear temple, killing at least eight people.

Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat confirmed the latest

clash and said it took place about 155 miles (250 kilometers) west of Preah

Vihear.

Chhum said the fighting took place at another temple in Ta Krabey that is also

claimed by both nations. He said both sides had used rocket launchers, machine

guns and rifles.

Thai Army Spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd told The Associated Press the

latest skirmishes erupted after dawn and continued for at least half an hour.

Another spokesperson, Lt. Col. Siriya Khuangsirikul, said one Thai soldier had

been killed and artillery had been used.

Siriya said both sides " are in the middle of negotiating for a cease-fire. "

Serm Chainarong, the governor of Thailand's Surin province where the fighting

happened, said authorities there were preparing to evacuate about 5,000 people.

It was unclear what sparked the latest fighting.

The conflict is rooted in a decades-old border dispute over ancient temples and

the land surrounding them, which has fueled nationalist passions on both sides.

Tensions between the neighbors have been exacerbated in recent months in part by

pressure from powerful Thai nationalist groups, which have staged protests in

Bangkok urging the government to reclaim the land.

Clashes have erupted several times since 2008, when Preah Vihear was given U.N.

World Heritage status.

___

Cheang reported from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.