CAMBODIA: FIGHTING BETWEEN SUPPORTERS OF RIVAL PREMIERS

(2 Jul 1997) Khmer/Natsound
Fighters loyal to Cambodia's rival premiers fired mortars and rocket launchers at each other on Wednesday at a naval base outside the capital, Phnom Penh.
The extent and cause of the fighting were not clear, but the battle involved troops supporting the rival co-prime ministers, Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen.
The clash appeared to be linked to recent accusations by Hun Sen's party that a general loyal to Ranariddh was massing former Khmer Rouge guerrillas and intended to attack fighters loyal to Hun Sen.
Armed soldiers set up roadblocks several kilometres (miles) away from the fighting at a naval base outside Phnom Penh on Wednesday.
The fighting comes two weeks after a gunbattle in central Phnom Penh between Ranariddh's bodyguards and Hun Sen's troops left two of the prince's guards dead.
Cameramen and reporters were stopped at a checkpoint just outside the base so were unable to see what happened.
The clash appeared linked to recent accusations by Hun Sen's party that a general loyal to Ranariddh was massing former Khmer Rouge guerrillas and intended to attack fighters loyal to Hun Sen.
Some people living in the area were prevented from returning home.
The women in this vehicle, coming out of the area, were clearly distressed by what they had seen.
Soldiers directed this woman away from the fighting.
SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"The soldiers told me to go south away from the area under attack they're still fighting."
SUPER CAPTION: Woman directed by soldiers away from fighting
The long standing enmity between Ranariddh and Hun Sen has worsened in recent weeks because of disputes over peace talks with the last remnant of the Khmer Rouge.
About one-thousand other Khmer Rouge guerrillas are holed-up in far northern Cambodia. Officials are trying to persuade that group to defect.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

[@brossmart7785]

Why you love reviewing old story?

[@jeromekhies4948]

n_n easy too know you so on.

[@hestunugroho23]

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌼🌼🌼🌼🌾🌾🌾

[@naromphone7583]

🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏

[@thienvo8452]

😜👉🇨🇳Khmer rouge still control in Colombia😭😭🇰🇭🇺🇸🇷🇺🤢🛌🛌🛌

[@XoXo-le8cp]

ไร้การศึกษาฆ่าแต่กันร่ำไป