Thai PM: Situation along Thai-Cambodian border eased

BANGKOK, April 4 -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Saturday the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple had eased to a certain extent, according to the Thai News Agency.

Abhisit said he did not want fighting to happen again, but the government must affirm Thailand's right in the disputed area.

He said the talks with Cambodia will defuse tensions and eventually solve the problems.

Also on Saturday, Thailand's Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda said clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers at the disputed border area on Friday resulted from "misunderstanding",

Anupong said preparation were under way for negotiations between Thailand and Cambodia, at the ministerial level as well as with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, to resolve the issue,

Friday's clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers caused the deaths of two Thai soldiers and two Cambodian soldiers, and injuries of nine Thai soldiers, local media said.

Thailand and Cambodia have earlier conducted a few round of negotiations which involved the militaries and foreign ministries from the two sides to solve the border dispute regarding areas around the ancient Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO world heritage site.

The international court ruled the Preah Vihear temple belonged to Cambodia more than 40 years ago. But dispute about borders areas around the temple has remained a fuse in the Thai-Cambodian relationship.

The issue became hot again after the Cambodia applied successfully for the temple to be listed as a world heritage site in July last year. Military deployment was enhanced and sporadic clashes were reported along the border. Not much progress has been made in the negotiations between two foreign ministers and two militaries except for a promise to act "restraint".