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| REUTERS/ Stringer |
MOSCOW, April 30
RIA Novosti (Russia)
Thai and Cambodian have exchanged gunfire near a disputed temple despite a cease-fire agreement between them, local media reported on Saturday.
A century-old conflict between the two states over the ownership of several 11th century temples was reignited last year and boiled over on Friday.
“The fighting started again this morning at around 4:00 a.m. [on Saturday] at Ta Krabei temple, Thai soldiers launched the attack first,” Cambodian Colonel Suos Sothea told Xinhua news agency from battle field.
“Thai troops have fired small arms, rockets and artillery at our troops. We have also opened fire to defend our territory, but we have not used heavy weapons to fight back yet.”
At least six Thai soldiers and one civilian have been killed in the clashes, authorities said. Cambodia has said three of its troops have been killed in the fighting.
A total of 48,192 villagers from Thailand’s two border provinces, Surin and Buri Ram, have already been evacuated.
The border between Thailand and Cambodia has never been demarcated in detail.
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