Troops clash on Thai-Cambodian border

BANGKOK, April 3 (UPI) -- Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged gunfire Friday in a dispute over a border area, military officials said.

The two sides engaged in two skirmishes near the ancient temple of Preah Vihear, scene of sporadic clashes in recent months, the BBC reported.

The countries have had a long-running dispute over a 1.8 square-mile area surrounding the temple, which was awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in 2008.

Cambodian officials were unable to confirm reports that two Cambodian soldiers died.

A Cambodian spokesman said troops first began fighting when Thai soldiers entered their country. A Thai official called the situation a "misunderstanding."

The clashes occurred one day before a new round of talks between the two countries, the British broadcaster said. The Cambodia-Thailand Joint Border Committee is expected to have three days of talks on the disputed land, beginning Saturday.

The fighting began when a Thai soldier stepped on a landmine while on patrol, a Thai senior military official told the Thai News Agency. Cambodian forces said the soldier was in Cambodia when the mine exploded, which Thai officials denied.