Number of Thai soldiers killed in Cambodia border clashes disputed

Phnom Penh: A Cambodian government spokesman says four Thai soldiers have been killed in border clashes and 10 others have been detained.

Thai and Cambodian soldiers fired at each other with machine guns and rocket launchers Friday along a disputed border, an escalation of tension in a long-standing feud near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.

Cambodian Spokesman Khieu Kanharith said four Thai soldiers were killed and 10 others detained in two separate clashes. He said that no Cambodian were killed.

The Thai Foreign Ministry insists that only one Thai soldier was killed, seven injured and none take prisoner.

Both sides claim the other opened fire on them during two brief clashes several hours apart around the same border location.