M'SIA ASKS THAILAND AND CAMBODIA TO RESOLVE BORDER CONFLICT THROUGH TALKS

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia Tuesday asked Thailand and Cambodia to resolve through talks their conflict over a remote plot of jungle on their common border where an ancient Hindu temple is situated.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said that as partners in
the 10-member Asean grouping, they should respect the Asean charter which, among
other things, calls for conflict resolution through talks rather than force.

"If allowed to prolong, the conflict can tarnish the image of Asean as a
regional organisation," he told reporters after delivering a keynote address at
the launch of the Centre for the Straits of Melaka, here.

The Strait of Malacca is a narrow, 805 km (500 mile) stretch of water
between Peninsular Malaysia (West Malaysia) and the Indonesian island of
Sumatra. It is named after the state of Melaka, Malaysia.

Last Wednesday, Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rockets and gunfire
across their common border, resulting in reportedly the death of two Cambodian
soldiers and injury of seven Thai soldiers.

The Preah Vihear temple, which is at least 900 years old, is a tourist
attraction and World Heritage Site which sits atop a mountain.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) had awarded the area where the
temple stands to Cambodia in a 1962 decision.