Cambodia Major General commander Srey Dek (R) arm wrestles with Thai Major General Kanok NetraKaveysana (L) during a joint lunch at Koe sekhakirisrarak pagoda near Preah Vihear temple April 5, 2009. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday supported Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen's move to downplay a border clash, calling it the result of a misunderstanding that could be resolved through amicable talks. Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rocket and rifle fire on a disputed stretch of their border on Friday, killing two Thais in the latest flare-up of an ancient feud over a 900-year-old Hindu temple.
REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea ( CAMBODIA POLITICS IMAGE OF THE DAY TOP PICTURE)
Cambodia Major General commander Srey Dek (L) shakes hands with Thai Major General Kanok NetraKaveysana (R) on their way to a joint lunch at Koe sekhakirisrarak pagoda near Preah Vihear temple April 5, 2009. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday supported Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen's move to downplay a border clash, calling it the result of a misunderstanding that could be resolved through amicable talks. Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rocket and rifle fire on a disputed stretch of their border on Friday, killing two Thais in the latest flare-up of an ancient feud over a 900-year-old Hindu temple.
REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea ( CAMBODIA POLITICS IMAGE OF THE DAY TOP PICTURE)Troops could be seen chatting and some even stowed away their weapons, but they said they remained ready to fight after their Friday clash -- the biggest burst of violence for months in a feud over territory near an ancient temple.
"The situation is not escalating, but if the Thais try to enter the banned area something might happen. If they don't come, there will be no problems," commander Bun Thean told AFP Sunday.
Soldiers exchanged rocket, machine-gun and mortar fire on Friday near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple on the frontier, following a brief skirmish earlier in the day, officials from both sides said.
Thai and Cambodian commanders planned to meet at their disputed border Sunday and eat lunch together in attempt to further calm tensions, Cambodian soldiers said.
The area was the scene of several clashes last year after Cambodia successfully applied for United Nations world heritage status for the ruins in July, with four soldiers killed in a battle there in October.
The countries have been at loggerheads over the site for decades.
One Thai soldier died at the site of the clash Friday and another died in hospital later, while 10 others were injured, said the Thai military.
Cambodian officials reported they suffered no casualties.
Nine soldiers were still being treated in two hospitals in the northeast Thai city of Ubon Ratchathani, two of them in a critical condition, said the Thai army.
Despite the violence, Cambodian premier Hun Sen and his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva sought to play down the latest crisis.
Both countries have said border committee talks would proceed along with meetings scheduled at a key regional summit next week.
The premiers are due to take part in a summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and key regional partners in Thailand from April 10.
In 1962 the World Court awarded the ruins to Cambodia, but the most accessible entrance is in Thailand, and landmines cover much of the disputed land.
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