By Martin Petty
PHANOM DONG RAK, Thailand (Reuters) – Thai and Cambodia troops fought with short-range rockets and guns near 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple on Tuesday, opening a second front in a five-day confrontation that has killed 13 people in Southeast Asia’s bloodiest border dispute in years.
The fighting raised concerns that hostilities had spread 150 km east of two other ancient Hindu temples where Thai and Cambodian troops have clashed sporadically since Friday, sending more than 50,000 people into evacuation shelters.
Thai regional army spokesman Prawit Hukaew said Cambodia fired rockets after two Thai F-16 jets patrolled the area, but he described the clash as “minor.” He said he believed Cambodia was responding to the presence of Thai fighter jets which he said never strayed beyond Thai airspace or opened fire.
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