By Thomas Bell in Bangkok
A border dispute over a 900-year-old temple is threatening to boil over when Thai troops allegedly mounted an incursion into Cambodian territory.
The incident was sparked when three Thai protesters crossed barbed wire to enter the disputed site and were arrested by Cambodian border guards. A Cambodian official said that around 40 Thai soldiers later crossed the border.
"Confrontation is occurring between Thai troops and our Cambodian troops, but there is no shooting yet," said Hang Soth, the Cambodian official in charge of the temple area. "Our troops have been ordered to be on alert but not to fire first."
Thailand denied that its soldiers had entered Cambodia. "We are not violating the territory of Cambodia. We have every right to deploy troops here to protect our sovereignty," said Maj Gen Kanok Netakawesana, a field commander in the region.
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