Phnom Penh, Apr 24 (ANI): Thailand has strongly rejected accusations that it used chemical weapons against Cambodian troops in a clash that killed 10 soldiers and forced thousands of civilians from their homes.
Earlier, a statement Cambodian Defense Ministry had accused Thailand of firing 75 and 105 mm shells "loaded with poisonous gas" into Cambodian territory.
A Cambodian field commander said that Thailand used both cluster shells, anti-personnel weapons banned by many countries and artillery shells that gave off a debilitating gas.
The Defense Ministry accused Thailand of seeking to seize two ancient temples in disputed border territory, and said Thai aircraft supported the attacks, including reconnaissance planes that "flew deep into Cambodia's airspace."
But, Thailand rejected these accusations, and said it did not use any aircraft or chemical weapons during the clash.
"I'd like to categorically deny that the Thai military has used any kind of aircraft," said Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.
"I'd like to reiterate that the accusations from Cambodia hold no truth at all. What they said about us using poisonous gas was not true either," he added.
Colonel Tawatchai Samutsakorn, commander of Thailand's 2nd Army Region, denied that his forces had employed cluster bombs or poison gas.
However, Thailand acknowledged using cluster type munitions in border fighting in February, but argued that they were not of the type banned from use by 108 countries under an international treaty.
The countries have competing claims over small swaths of land along the border, with nationalistic politics fueling tensions.
Clashes have erupted several times since 2008, when the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple was given UN World Heritage status over Thai objections. (ANI)
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