Fighting between Cambodian, Thai troops near Preah Vihear

Apr 26, 2011, 7:35 GMT

Phnom Penh - Fighting erupted Tuesday near Preah Vihear temple, a Cambodian government spokesman said, marking a widening in the scope of border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia.

Phay Siphan said fighting was underway using artillery near Phnom Trop, a hill that lies around 10 kilometres from the 11th-century Hindu temple.

At least 13 soldiers have been killed and more than 50 wounded since Friday in border clashes that have taken place at another disputed site around 100 kilometres west of Preah Vihear temple.

In February fighting around the temple killed at least five soldiers.

Pen Song, a soldier based in the area, told the German Press Agency dpa that clashes had started at Phnom Trop, and that troops were firing rockets and shells.

Each side has blamed the other for the fighting over the past five days.

Thailand has also blamed UNESCO for escalating tensions with its decision to list Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site in July 2008 despite Thai claims that a 4.6-square-kilometre area near Preah Vihear is still the subject of a border demarcation dispute.

The Hindu temple has been a bone of contention for five decades.

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