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PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia : Cambodian and Thai officials will meet next week to resolve a standoff over their disputed border close to an ancient temple, officials from both countries said Thursday.
More than 400 Thai troops and more than 800 Cambodian soldiers remain assembled around a small Buddhist pagoda on the slope of a mountain leading to the ruins of the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple .
The incident comes amid heightened political tensions in both countries after the UN cultural agency UNESCO awarded the temple World Heritage status earlier this month.
Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and Cambodia's Hun Sen agreed to fresh talks on the dispute in Thailand's border Sa Kaeo province on Monday.
"Last night both prime ministers talked with each other," Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told AFP.
"Both have moved to avoid any tensions," he added, adding that soldiers would remain peacefully in position.
"There will be no problem because the soldiers have not pointed their rifles at each other yet."
Cambodia said it would send its defence minister to Monday's talks. Samak has yet to confirm if he would attend or send his army chief, Lieutenant General Nipat Thonglek told AFP.
Nipat said the prime minister would meet in advance with army, navy and air force chiefs to discuss the situation.
Cambodian officials claim soldiers began crossing 100 metres inside their border on Tuesday after three Thai protesters were arrested for jumping a fence to reach the temple.
Thailand denies the trespass, insisting the soldiers remain on their own soil.
On Thursday, Cambodian soldiers laid razor wire across possible paths into Cambodia to prevent more Thais from sneaking across the border.
Thai troops meanwhile defused landmines in the pagoda compound after one of their soldiers was injured by a landmine Tuesday.
Brigadier Chea Keo, commander-in-chief of the army at Preah Vihear, warned reporters that the situation could worsen if the Thais continued to swell their ranks.
"If the Thais keep adding more troops, the situation will escalate, but we try to be patient," Chea Keo said.
Groups of Cambodian soldiers based at the foot of the mountain were redeployed to the temple itself, armed with AK-47 rifles and rocket launchers.
Some 300 Thai soldiers were stationed inside the pagoda compound while 100 others casually sat and stood outside, sometimes chatting with Cambodian troops.
Several Cambodian monks and nuns who were also inside the pagoda compound played Khmer Buddhist prayers on tape over a loudspeaker.
Around 1,000 Thai protesters plan to demonstrate in front of the closed border gate next to the temple later in the day, said Cambodian military officials.
Although the atmosphere was peaceful, Cambodians said they were ready to fight if fired upon.
"If any order comes from the top, I can launch my rocket immediately. I am protecting my territory and temples," said soldier Lorm Trouk.
Brigadier Chea Keo acknowledged that the better-equipped Thai army has superior weapons but said that Cambodians were in a better position at the top of the mountain.
An area of 4.6 square kilometres (1.8 square miles) remains in dispute after the World Court in 1962 determined the Preah Vihear ruins belong to Cambodia, even though the most accessible entrance lies in Thailand.
Some 70 per cent of Cambodians who live in the area have left their homes since Tuesday, said Chea Keo.
The standoff is of great national importance to both countries.
Cambodia is preparing for general elections on July 27, while Thailand remains in the grip of anti-government protests, with its cabinet threatened by impeachment proceedings.
- AFP/os
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