M'SIAN FM MEETS THAI PM ON CAMBODIAN ISSUE

BANGKOK, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim met
Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat Wednesday to relay a message from Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi suggesting that Thailand and Cambodia de-escalate strained
relations between them and avoid an armed conflict.

Dr Rais, who arrived here Tuesday, met Somchai at the premier's office at
the Don Muang Airport before meeting his Thai counterpart and deputy prime
minister Sompong Amornvivat at the same location.

Last Friday, the Malaysian cabinet decided that the prime minister send a
message to his Thai counterpart in the Asean spiritas any military conflict
between Thailand and Cambodia would have consequences on the region.

Both countries were involved in skirmishes along their disputed border near
the Preah Vihear temple on Oct 15 that left two Cambodian and one Thai soldiers
dead, and several injured on both sides.

The Preah Vihear temple, known as Phra Viharn in Thailand, was named a
World
Heritage site at a Unesco meeting in Quebec, Canada this year, despite Thai
opposition to the listing.

The skirmish came a day after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen gave an
ultimatum for Thai soldiers to be withdrawn from the disputed border area or
face war.

Both Somchai and Hun Sen are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the
Asian
and European Summit scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Beijing.

-- BERNAMA