Рет қаралды 101,234
(12 Apr 1998) Thai/Nat
Cambodia's defence minister is claiming the remnants of the Khmer Rouge are on the verge of military defeat.
But Tea Banh says he cannot confirm rumours that Pol Pot and other leaders had been captured inside Thailand.
The Cambodian authorities are claiming that the Khmer Rouge is finished.
They flew journalists and foreign military observers to Trapeng Praset, a settlement 22 kilometres (15 miles) east of the main rebel base at Anlong Veng, now in government hands.
About eight thousand people, among them 400 guerrillas who have defected from the Khmer Rouge to the government in recent weeks, were gathered to receive supplies.
Tea Banh, the Cambodian Defence Minister, said he didn't think the rebels could hold out much longer.
SOUNDBITE: (Thai)
There are only a few active fighters left against us now, just a very few. I think it will be over very soon without any further fighting.
SUPER CAPTION: Tea Banh, Cambodian Defence Minister
But he couldn't confirm a report, floated earlier by General Meas Sophea, deputy army chief of staff, that Pol Pot, Ta Mok and other Khmer Rouge leaders had entered Thailand and were being held in custody by renegade guerrillas.
Tea Banh supervised the distribution of food, medicine and clothes to local villagers and the guerrilla defectors.
Thai officers Sunday said around a thousand rebels were battling pro-government forces about ten kilometres (six miles) east of Anlong Veng but were short of supplies.
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