Thai, Cambodian troops exchange gunfire at border area

2008-10-15 08:31:45 GMT2008-10-15 16:31:45 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Fighting broke out between Thaiand Cambodian troops around 0225 p.m. local time (0725 GMT) Wednesday near the Phnom Trop in the Veal Intry area, about 2,000 meters west of the ancient Preah Vihear Temple, an official told Xinhua.

The conflict still continues now, said Hang Soth, secretary general of the Cambodian National Authority of the Preah Vihear Temple.

Casualty is not known yet, he added.

Meanwhile, Bun Leng, village chief living near the temple, also confirmed the conflict with Xinhua.

Cambodian soldiers are evacuating the civilians near the war zone, he added.

The gunfire exchange has turned the months-long military face off over territorial dispute there into direct armed confrontation.

Earlier Wednesday, Cambodia said that some 500 Thai troops had arrived at a patch of land near the Preah Vihear Temple.

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