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Jimmy Carter visits Cambodian refugees

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Former President Jimmy Carter visited Cambodian refugees today at a field hospital and evacuation site near the Thai-Cambodian border.

Carter, accompanied by his wife, Rosalyn, and daughter, Amy, toured Khao i Dang, a U.N.-supported encampment where more than 20,000 refugees are awaiting resettlement.

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Carter skipped a scheduled lunch break to talk to the refugees.

'When I have a chance to come here, I want to tour the whole place,' he was quoted as saying.

The Carters walked through the sprawling camp and spoke with many of an estimated 100 refugees hospitalized with wounds from Vietnamese artillery and land mines.

Escorted by Thai troops, the Carters later visited a temporary border evacuation site where 60,000 poster-waving Cambodians formed a mile-long line to welcome them.

The Cambodians fled to Thailand last December when Vietnamese troops attacked guerrilla strongholds inside Cambodia.

After their border visit, the Carters visited Ayutthaya Province, site of Thailand's capital before Bangkok.

On Thursday, the Carters will tour the Grand Palace and have lunch with Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda.

As honorary chairwoman, Mrs. Carter also will open the second Asia-Pacific conference of Friendship Force, an international exchange group. Her husband will deliver the keynote address.

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