Asia-Pacific

Most Cambodian evacuees for border fighting return home

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-03 14:13

PHNOM PENH - Prime Minister Hun Sen said Tuesday that almost all of Cambodian evacuees fled from the latest fighting between Cambodian and Thai troops over the disputed border areas have returned home although sporadic clashes still occur.

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The latest series of deadly clashes between the two countries' troops has happened from April 22 and forced 45,200 people to flee homes for safe shelters.

"As of Tuesday morning, most of them have returned homes, except about 200 families with about 800 people remain at the safe shelter because their houses are close to the fighting zones, so we let them wait for a few more days until the situation has returned to normalcy," the premier said on Tuesday during celebrating the 148th anniversary of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent with about 10,000 participants.

"I hope the situation will return to normalcy soon through the negotiation between the two countries' frontline military commanders for a ceasefire again this morning (Tuesday)," added the premier.

The total death toll in the clashes since April 22 has mounted to 18 people including nine Cambodian soldiers, eight Thai soldiers and one Thai civilian.