ASEAN holds crisis talks with Thailand, Cambodia

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SINGAPORE, July 22 (AFP): ASEAN held crisis talks with member states Thailand and Cambodia Tuesday but failed to defuse a military standoff which is threatening to escalate into an unprecedented test for the regional bloc.

The unscheduled talks took place behind closed doors during annual ministerial meetings here as Cambodia called for an emergency session of the UN Security Council to defuse the crisis which flared last week.

"Both ministers from Thailand and Cambodia basically gave briefings on the issue," an Asian diplomat told the agency, requesting anonymity.

"Cambodia wants it resolved through ASEAN but the Thai side wants it resolved bilaterally," he added.

When asked if any progress had been made towards a resolution, he replied: "Nothing".

More than 500 Thai troops are facing off against at least 1,000 Cambodian soldiers around a small Buddhist pagoda on disputed land near the ruins of an 11th-century temple , which belongs to Cambodia.

No shots have been fired since the long-running dispute erupted into a military standoff last week, but some senior ASEAN officials said they were concerned it was escalating.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said the dispute was "not only relevant in terms of the problems that we see between the two states but also could be a test for ASEAN."

ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said after the meeting the atmosphere had been "friendly" but he gave no indication progress had been made.