Thai premier says border situation with Cambodia is improving

May 1, 2011, 8:48 GMT

Bangkok - The Thai-Cambodia border situation was improving but it remains too early for people who were evacuated from the area to return home, the Thai prime minister said on Sunday.

If there are no more clashes over the next couple days, people can begin returning to their homes, Abhisit Vejjajiva said on his weekly Sunday address.

Thai officials said more than 30,000 civilians had to flee.

The most recent clash ended Saturday morning and left 10 Thai soldiers wounded, the Thai army said. That was the second breach of a ceasefire agreed to by local field commanders and then approved by their superiors on Thursday.

Both Thailand and Cambodia blamed each other.

The conflict is over disagreement on the border, particularly a 4.6-square-kilometre area near an 11th-century Hindu temple.

That dispute goes back decades but Bangkok said it resurfaced after UNESCO in 2008 designated Preah Vihear a world heritage site, over Thai objections.

The two armies have clashed several times since, most recently starting on April 22 with clashes for nine days running until Sunday.

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