Deadly Fighting Erupts at Thai-Cambodian Border

In this July 20 file photo, Thai soldiers guard a Cambodian Buddhist temple near Preah Vihear...

In this July 20 file photo, Thai soldiers guard a Cambodian Buddhist temple near Preah Vihear temple, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia. A gunfight broke out between Thai and Cambodian troops at a disputed border zone Wednesday October 15, 2008, escalating a conflict that officials from both sides fear could result in a war between the neighbors.

(AP Photo)

Escalating tensions between Thailand and Cambodia over a disputed border near a historic temple erupted Wednesday in a deadly gunbattle, prompting officials to quickly declare that they would resolve the dispute through talks, not bullets.

Two Cambodian troops were killed, the first deaths in a 4-month standoff that began when UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have Preah Vihear temple named a World Heritage Site. Thailand feared its claims over nearby land would be undermined.

In recent days, as the dispute fueled nationalism in both countries, officials appeared to be preparing for a major confrontation.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum to Thailand on Tuesday to pull back its soldiers from the disputed territory, calling it "a life-and-death battle zone." Thailand moved reinforcements up to the border area.

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Thailand also put jet fighters on alert at bases nationwide and C-130 transport planes on standby that could evacuate Thais living in the border area, Thai air force official Group Capt. Montol Satchukorn said.

Thai army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkumnerd said Wednesday that Cambodian soldiers approached a Thai base, refused to leave the area and fired in the air.

"We believe they were meant to be warning shots. The Thai troops fired back in self defense," he said.

The fighting Wednesday afternoon lasted for about an hour, with each side accusing the other of firing the first shot.

In a protest handed to the senior Cambodian diplomat in Bangkok, Thailand's Foreign Ministry said Thai soldiers were peacefully patrolling their own territory along the border when Cambodian soldiers shot at them with rocket propelled grenades and submachine guns.

Cambodia's Foreign Ministry accused Thai troops of launching "heavy armed attacks" at three different locations to push back Cambodians from positions inside Cambodian territory. The battle killed at least two Cambodian soldiers and wounded three.