THAILAND THAI SOLDIER KILLED IN CAMBODIAN CONFLICT

>> YOUR LINK HERE: ___ http://youtube.com/watch?v=31wwrAQRMk8

(27 Aug 1997) Natural Sound • • One Thai soldier was killed on Wednesday amidst intense fighting between warring Cambodian factions on the Thai-Cambodian border. • • Several shells strayed over the border, killing the Thai soldier and wounding two others. • • The clashes were the heaviest in two weeks around the Cambodian village of O'Smach, with the sound of heavy artillery, mortars and small arms echoing around the area. • • Outnumbered and outgunned soldiers loyal to deposed First Premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh have been putting up a stubborn defence against the government army backing Second Premier Hun Sen. • • Cambodian government forces appeared to be launching a final assault on Wednesday against resistance forces holed up at the border town of O'Smach. • • After a morning of intermittent exchanges, government artillery opened up with a heavy barrage on what was the last resistance stronghold of O'Smach. • • The resistance - made up of men backing deposed First Prime Minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh and the Khmer Rouge - has held out for two weeks against government troops from hilltop positions heavily ringed by mines. • • A wooden stall at an open air market was set on fire. • • The market and O'Smach town village have been abandoned since August 19th, when 22-thousand civilians sought refuge in Thailand. • • One shell apparently hit an ammunition store, which crackled with exploding bullets and rocket-propelled grenades. • • The barrage died down after half an hour, followed by an exchange of machine gun and small arms fire as Hun Sen's men apparently tried to move forward. • • Three blood-covered pro-Ranariddh soldiers were brought to the border and allowed across for medical treatment in Thailand. • • Further artillery exchanges continued through Wednesday afternoon, with several rounds landing in Thailand. • • One shell landed in a Thai bunker, immediately killing one Thai soldier and seriously injuring two others. • • The blast occurred near a group of journalists, throwing A-P-T-V's cameraman off his feet, but he was unhurt. • • Thailand returned fire with five artillery rounds, warning the Cambodian gunners to keep the fighting on their side. • • The Thai army moved journalists away from the fighting to a road checkpoint about one kilometre (half a mile) from the frontier. • • It's believed that the Thai Foreign Ministry will lodge a protest to the Cambodians over the incident. • • In Phnom Penh, Hun Sen again rejected an appeal by Ranariddh to call a ceasefire that would coincide with King Norodom Sihanouk's scheduled return on Friday. • • Wednesday's heavy assault indicated Hun Sen intends to finish the resistance at O'Smach before the king's arrival. • • Hun Sen overthrew Ranariddh in a coup on July 5 and 6 in the capital, Phnom Penh. • • His men then chased the prince's armed supporters through northern Cambodia until they made a stand at O'Smach. • • Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork • Twitter: / ap_archive • Facebook: / aparchives • Instagram: / apnews • • • You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

#############################

New on site