A Thai soldier injured in a fighting with Cambodia is helped by his comrades and a nurse after arriving at a hospital in Phnom Dongrak district of Surin province, northeastern Thailand, Friday. (AP) BANGKOK: Thailand and Cambodia exchanged artillery and gunfire along their frontier for several hours Friday in the first major flare-up since a shaky ceasefire in February. Military officials on both sides said at least six soldiers were killed. The fighting near the two ancient temples of Ta Krabey and Ta Moan has forced thousands of civilians on both sides of the border to flee, with Cambodia saying artillery was falling on villages and other areas as far as 21 kilometers inside its territory. It was the first skirmish reported since eight people were killed when the two Southeast Asian nations battled for four straight days in February near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, about 160 km to the east of Friday's fighting. The conflict is rooted in a decades-old border dispute over ancient temples and the land surrounding them, which has fueled nationalist passions on both sides. Clashes have erupted several times since 2008, when Preah Vihear was given UN World Heritage status. Each side blamed the other for the resumption of fighting. Thai army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Siriya Khuangsirikul said three Thai soldiers had been killed, and 13 wounded, one critically. Cambodian defense spokesman Lt. Gen. Chhum Socheat said three Cambodian soldiers were killed and six wounded.
