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| Thai and Cambodian soldiers wait as their commanders hold talks near Preah Vihear temple Thursday. |
Thai and Cambodian soldiers will remain entrenched along the
border, following talks among military commanders from both sides that failed
to bring about any kind of withdrawal or cooperation Thursday.
Thai and Cambodia
military commanders met on the Thai side of the border near Preah Vihear temple
in a four-hour meeting Thursday, as the Cambodian death toll rose by one
following a brief skirmishes Wednesday.
Ten Thai soldiers who had been surrounded at the Keo Sikha
Svara pagoda, west of Preah Vihear temple, were given back their arms and will
be allowed to stay in the pagoda, and all other troops will remain in their
positions, said Maj. Gen. Srey Douk, commander of Cambodia's Division 12, who
participated in the talks Thursday.
Phnom Penh was quiet a day after the fighting, and Foreign
Minister Hor Namhong told VOA Khmer diplomatic relations on both sides remained
good, with hopes of more talks on the
border dispute, which has continued since July 15.
Meanwhile, many Thai nationals in Phnom
Penh were preparing to return to Thailand.
In Oddar Meanchey province, west of Wednesday's fighting,
many people were seen fleeing for safety, though a small percentage stayed
behind.