July 23, 2008
Bangkok - Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said his Cambodian counterpart exploited from the escalating border spat to campaign for votes, adding talks should resume after weekend general elections.
Samak said Prime Minister Hun Sen was just benefiting from the nationalist sentiment ahead of Sunday's polls which are widely expected to return the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) to power, according to AFP.
"Let them play -- they merely want a result for the election on the 27th," he told reporters. "He (Hun Sen) just wants to win elections."
He expects the situation will become less intense after the elections and it will be easier to hold talks with Cambodia.
At least 500 Thai and 1,000 Cambodian troops remain stationed in 4.6 square kilometres (1.8 square miles) of land claimed by both sides after intense talks on Monday ended with no resolution.
Cambodia marked the registration of its Preah Vihear temple as the World Heritage site as its victory while Thailand claims the land around the temple belongs to it.
