BANGKOK, Oct. 26 KYODO
The Thai Foreign Ministry on Sunday issued a statement denying Cambodia's accusation that Thai troops damaged an ancient temple during a recent border clash. Cambodia said Saturday that it had filed a complaint with the U.N. Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization alleging Thai soldiers damaged statues and a staircase at Preah Vihear temple with rocket launchers. However, the Thai ministry's statement said it received an explanation from the Thai military about the Oct. 15 clash that Thai troops did not use rockets or heavy weapons in the clash. The ministry added that Cambodian troops attacked Thai troops with rockets on the day, wounding two soldiers. During the just-ended Asia-Europe Meeting summit in Beijing, Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen held a bilateral meeting on the border conflict and vowed to solve this issue in a bilateral framework.
Kyodo