Thai, Cambodian troops exchange gunfire at border area

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Gunfire exchange has gradually become sporadic, since a fighting broke out between Thai and Cambodian troops at around 2:25 p.m. local time (0725 GMT) Wednesday near the Phnom Trop in the Veal Intry area, about 2,000 meters west of the ancient Preah Vihear Temple, a Cambodian official at the scene told Xinhua.

"The firepower is not as strong as one hour ago," he said on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, Hang Soth, secretary general of the Cambodian National Authority of the Preah Vihear Temple, told Xinhua that casualty is not known yet.

In addition, Bun Leng, village chief living near the temple, told Xinhua that Cambodian soldiers are evacuating the civilians near the war zone.

The gunfire exchange has turned the months-long military face off over territorial dispute there into direct armed confrontation.

Earlier Wednesday, Cambodia said that some 500 Thai troops had arrived at a patch of land near the Preah Vihear Temple.