PHNOM PENH, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian and Thai troops clashed near the 11th century temple in a border area on Friday afternoon, said a close military source standby at the area.
"Thai bulldozers made the way to enter Cambodia territory and our troops banned them from moving into Cambodia at Beehive area in front of Preah Vihear temple, but they did not listen to us, so military clash happened to protect our territory," he said.
There were no immediate report of casualties in the clash that happened around 3:15 p.m. local time.
The incident was the latest in a long-festering dispute over the cliff-top Preah Vihear temple.
The incident coincided with the visit of Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya in Cambodia to attend the 7th meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation. Kasit is now in Phnom Penh to visit two Thai detainees.
The re-tension between Cambodia and Thailand over the border started on Jan. 27 after Thailand asked Cambodia to remove a national flag over Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svarak pagoda near Preah Vihear temple, claiming that the pagoda is on the disputed area, but the Cambodian side rejected it.
Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict due to Thai claim of the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
"Thai bulldozers made the way to enter Cambodia territory and our troops banned them from moving into Cambodia at Beehive area in front of Preah Vihear temple, but they did not listen to us, so military clash happened to protect our territory," he said.
There were no immediate report of casualties in the clash that happened around 3:15 p.m. local time.
The incident was the latest in a long-festering dispute over the cliff-top Preah Vihear temple.
The incident coincided with the visit of Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya in Cambodia to attend the 7th meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation. Kasit is now in Phnom Penh to visit two Thai detainees.
The re-tension between Cambodia and Thailand over the border started on Jan. 27 after Thailand asked Cambodia to remove a national flag over Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svarak pagoda near Preah Vihear temple, claiming that the pagoda is on the disputed area, but the Cambodian side rejected it.
Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had border conflict due to Thai claim of the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border, and periodic clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers have resulted in the deaths of troops on both sides.
Editor: Bi Mingxin
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