Cambodian PM Accepts Request To Probe Red Shirt Leaders Hiding In Cambodia

BANGKOK, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has accepted Thailand's request to investigate reports claiming that antigovernment United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) 'Red Shirt' leaders with outstanding arrest warrants on terrorism are hiding on Cambodian soil, Thai News Agency (TNA) quoted acting Thai government spokesman Dr Panitan Wattanayagorn as saying.

Dr Panitan made the statement on Friday after Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva met for 15 minutes with his Cambodian counterpart at the summit of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in Hanoi, Vietnam, Thursday evening.

Hun Sen told Abhisit that he will investigate the issue, Dr Panitan said in a telephone interview to television Channel 9 (Modernine TV)'s morning news programme.

Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) earlier cited the confession of 11 men arrested in Chiang Mai on charges of being a national security threat, claiming that the Red Shirt arms trainings had been held in a Cambodian army camp.

Apart from the inquiry regarding the Red Shirt leaders' hiding place in Cambodia, the two leaders also discussed the progress of several joint projects and the management of border areas.

Dr Panitan added the Cambodian premier also expressed his concern regarding the widespread floods in Thailand which have claimed nearly a hundred lives and affected millions of people.