Cambodia, Thailand border talks end without deal

22/07/2008 15:21:11

Talks between Cambodia and Thailand to resolve a military stand-off on their joint border have ended without a solution.

Defence officials from the two nations say that after nearly eight hours in closed-door meetings in an eastern Thai town, the two sides have agreed only that force must not be used.

Cambodia's Defence Minister Tea Banh says it's impossible to find a solution at this stage.

Cambodia has asked the Association of South East Asian Nations to form an Inter-Ministerial Group of foreign ministers from Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos to try to find a peaceful solution to the dispute.

The focus of the nearly week-long crisis has been disputed land near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple on their joint border.

Hundreds of Thai and Cambodian troops have faced each other at the temple since last Tuesday, backed up by several thousand more troops and heavy artillery on both sides.

The World Court ruled in 1962 that it belongs to Cambodia, but its most accessible entrance lies in Thailand and the exact border is in dispute.

Earlier this month the UN's cultural agency UNESCO awarded the temple World Heritage status in recognition of its importance as an example of ancient Khmer architecture.

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