Cambodia seeks U.N. help in temple row with Thailand

By Melanie Lee

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Southeast Asian foreign ministers nudged Thailand and Cambodia on Tuesday to resolve a stand-off over an ancient temple on their border before bullets start flying.

Cambodia appealed to the United Nations late on Monday after bilateral talks failed to end the week-long border confrontation, which neighbours fear could turn violent.

At the heart of the dispute is a 4.6 sq km (1.8 sq mile) area around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment that forms a natural boundary and is claimed by both nations. The 900-year-old temple was awarded to Cambodia by an international court in 1962.

"In order to avoid armed confrontation, the Royal Government of Cambodia has decided to request an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to find a solution to the problem in accordance with international laws," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

With domestic politics fuelling the confrontation on both sides, foreign ministers from the Association of South East Asian Nations -- of which both Cambodia and Thailand are members -- offered their good offices during an informal lunch on Tuesday.

Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo, host for this year's ASEAN ministerial meeting, said both sides "reiterated they were committed to a peaceful resolution of the issue", and that another meeting of their General Border Commission to discuss the issue "would be held in the near future".

But no consensus could be reached for ASEAN to get involved, Yeo said in a statement.

Thailand would prefer to settle the issue bilaterally, a Thai official told reporters after the lunch.  Continued...