Cambodia accuses Thais of damaging temples

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BANGKOK, Apr 25 (agencies): Cambodia accused Thailand Monday of damaging ancient jungle temples at the centre of their bloodiest fighting since a bitter border dispute flared up almost three years ago. Twelve soldiers have died and tens of thousands of villagers on both sides fled the artillery shelling, which shattered an informal ceasefire that had held since February when the UN Security Council called for a permanent truce. The fighting resumed again Monday afternoon with several shells fired, both sides said, as usual blaming each other for the violence. The clashes began Friday near two groups of contested temples-called Ta Kwai and Ta Muen in Thai, and Ta Krabei and Ta Moan in Khmer-deep inside the jungle away from the main tourist trail. The Cambodian defence ministry said in a statement that the Thai attacks had caused damage to the ruins, without giving further details. About 20,000 civilians have sought refuge in 16 camps on the Thai side of the border while about 17,000 have been evacuated from Cambodian villages. Others, like 47-year-old Suwech Yodsri, stayed behind to guard their properties, despite the danger from shells falling in the area. Residents said that since Friday about 10 shells had fallen in the village, which was almost deserted. A man carrying a rifle patrolled the empty streets on his motorcycle. It is the first serious outbreak of hostilities since February when 10 people were killed in clashes near the 900-year-old disputed Preah Vihear temple about 150 kilometres (90 miles) away from the latest flashpoint. The fighting comes at a sensitive political time for Thailand, with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva preparing to dissolve the lower house of parliament soon for elections he has said will be held by early July. The two neighbours have fought a series of bloody gunbattles in recent years in the jungle near the ancient temples along the border, but none as deadly as the latest eruption of violence. The frontier has never been fully demarcated, partly because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia. Ties between the two countries have been strained since Preah Vihear-the most celebrated example of ancient Khmer architecture outside Cambodia's Angkor-was granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008.