Thailand and Cambodia declare truce

Thailand and Cambodia declare truce

Thailand and Cambodia's armies have agreed to a ceasefire that could end seven days of bloody clashes along their disputed border following a meeting of field commanders, a govern-ment spokesman said yesterday.

Both sides agreed to open a border point to allow displaced people and villagers to return to their homes, Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said.

"We will abide by the ceasefire from now on and local commanders will meet regularly to avoid misunderstandings," he said.

However, a deal to end the bloodiest fighting in decades remained uncon-firmed, as the death toll rose to 15.

Thai military spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said that while talks had taken place, "no agreement has been reached".

Both countries continue to blame each other for sparking the violence around two jungle temples, which has forced tens of thousands of civilians on both sides to flee their homes.

One Thai soldier died yesterday morning, bring-ing the total number of Thai troops killed since the clashes began last Friday to six, while eight have died on the Cambodian side. Bangkok said that a Thai civilian has also been killed.

The fighting has prompted increasing diplomatic pressure on the neighbours to end hostilities. --AFP