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3 Cambodian soldiers killed in clashes with Thai troops Saturday

24 April 2011 02:57 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Three Cambodian soldiers were killed and other 11 were injured in the armed clashes on Saturday with Thai troops over disputed areas, a senior military officer told Xinhua, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"Today’s fighting left 3 of our soldiers killed and other 11 injured," Suos Sothea, deputy commander of artillery unit, told Xinhua from the battle fields on Saturday night.

It brought the death toll of Cambodian soldiers to 6 and the injured to 17 during the two straight days of the two countries’ armed clashes.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Ministry of Defense issued another statement late Saturday, saying that the situation along the Cambodian-Thai border near Oddor Meanchey province, provoked by Thai military, is still tense at this moment.

"Following three series of Thai military aggressions on Friday’ s morning, at 9:40 a.m. earlier Saturday, Thai military shelled five toxic gas ammunitions by DK 75mm and 105mm on Cambodian military positions within the vicinity of the Temple of Ta Moan," it said.

"Up to 11:20 a.m., Thai military also continued shelling further five DK 75mm into the vicinity of the Temple of Ta Moan."

At the same time, Thai reconnaissance planes flew deep into the Cambodia’s airspace in the area of the Temple of Ta Moan. But the situation has been calm since 11:30 a.m., it added.

The latest military clashes at Ta Mon Thom and Ta Krabey temples in Oddor Meanchey province reoccurred just more than two months after the deadly clash on Feb. 4-7 at the border disputed area next to the Preah Vihear Temple, a World Heritage Site.

Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008. Just a week after the enlistment, Cambodia and Thailand have had a border conflict due to Thai claim of the ownership of 4.6 square km of scrub next to the temple, triggering a military build-up along the border and periodic clashes between soldiers on both sides.