Foreign diplomats to ease Thai-Cambodia conflict

[Tony]

Updated Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:56pm AEST
The dispute over the area surrounding the Preah Vihear temple nearly erupted into a shootout on Friday [Reuters]

The dispute over the area surrounding the Preah Vihear temple nearly erupted into a shootout on Friday [Reuters]

Foreign officials have flown to the Thai-Cambodian border as a tense five-day standoff between hundreds of troops led leaders to warn of "deteriorating" relations between the neighbours.

US, Chinese, French and Vietnamese embassy staff flew by helicopter from the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh to the disputed territory on the border, adding diplomatic pressure to end the confrontation between more than 500 Thai and 1,000 Cambodian troops.

Military commanders from both sides said they were seeking to calm the soldiers to ensure that violence does not erupt ahead of peace talks planned for Monday.
ABC Radio Australia