kyom som continue news from http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=57911
Preah Vihear, Cambodia - A Cambodian commander said on Thursday his country had released 13 Thai soldiers who surrendered during a deadly border shoot-out, although Thailand denies they were ever in custody.
Major General Srey Deok, commander of Cambodian troop operations in the disputed border area, said they had agreed to release the Thai soldiers after talks on Thursday with senior Thai military officials.
"We handed their weapons back to them already," Srey Deok said, adding that the troops had been released and allowed to walk around the disputed area.
Thailand, however, has maintained that none of their troops were captured by Cambodia.
"They are not Thai," said Lieutenant General Wiboonsak Neeparn, Thailand's northeastern army commander, after the meeting with Cambodian officials.
Two Cambodian soldiers were killed and several troops wounded on both sides when fighting broke out Wednesday on disputed land near an 11th century Khmer temple, a UN World Heritage site on Cambodian territory.
Cambodia and Thailand have been sparring over land near the temple since July, and tensions soared this week after about 80 Thai troops entered a disputed area, enraging Cambodia.
Last edited by smeykao on 16th October 2008, 9:06 pm; edited 1 time in total