More than 500 Thai troops are facing off with at least 1,000 Cambodian soldiers around a small Buddhist pagoda on disputed land near the ruins of the Hindu temple, which belongs to Cambodia.

'The situation at no man's land needs negotiation,' Mr Samak said, adding that it will take time and effort to reach any agreement.

'They claim the area belongs to them. We claim it belongs to us.'

Officials from both countries plan to meet today to try and defuse the nearly week-long crisis, but a Cambodian army commander has said they have little hope that the talks will produce results.

Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told AFP yesterday that his country had sent letters to the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly informing them of the situation, a move that appeared to irk Mr Samak.

'They (Cambodia) are trying to solve it by going to United Nations,' Mr Samak said.

'I will say no more - the complaint has reached the UN, the Thai Foreign Ministry will take care of the matter.'

But, Cambodia's Information Minister Khieu Kanharith yesterday clarified that the letter sent to the UN was to 'draw their attention to the current situation on the Cambodian-Thai border'.

He added: 'Cambodia is not asking for UN intervention. We still stick to Prime Minister Hun Sen's instructions to try to solve the problem peacefully between the two sides.'

The confrontation began on Tuesday after three Thai protesters tried to jump a fence to reach Preah Vihear and the situation almost erupted into violence on Thursday when witnesses said troops twice pointed their guns at each other.

In 1962, the World Court ruled that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia, but the most accessible entrance lies in Thailand and 4.6 sq km of the surrounding land remains in dispute.

The conflict over territory surrounding the ancient Preah Vihear Hindu temple escalated when Unesco recently approved Cambodia's application to have the complex named a World Heritage Site.

Thai activists say the new status will undermine Thailand's claim to nearby land.

Opposing commanders and their troops have tried to defuse tensions, sometimes even sharing meals, snapping photographs and sleeping within easy sight of each other.

Cambodian Brigadier-General Chea Keo said he had little hope that the talks scheduled for today between his government and Thailand would resolve the matter, noting that Thai troops have deployed artillery about 1 km north-east of Preah Vihear temple.

He said the reason for his pessimism stems from a recent counterclaim by Mr Samak that the area around the Buddhist temple belongs to Thailand.

While urging both sides to exercise restraint, Mr Samak's letter, addressed to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, said a settlement of Cambodians in that area constitutes 'a continued violation of Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity'.

Critics of the Thai government have used the issue to increase pressure on Mr Samak's government, which has already seen several leaders leaving office after bruising court defeats for the government.

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama resigned on July 10, just three days after the country's Constitutional Court ruled that he had violated the Constitution in signing a controversial deal with Cambodia, supporting its bid to list the disputed temple as a World Heritage site.

Critics had accused Mr Noppadon of selling out the country by signing that deal.

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE, ASSOCIATED PRESS