Taliban carries out major attack

Taliban forces carried a bold second attack on the provincial capitial of Lashkar Gah displaying more offensive capability than in previous years.

Although the attacks were repulsed, the Taliban moves mark the first brazen attempts at open warfare against strong enemy positions, in this case even a provincial capital.

The Taliban have shown greater ability to mass groups in the hundreds for operations and the attack late Tuesday involved simultaneous attempts to breach Lashkar Gah's defenses from different points.

Recently, Afghan and allied Western officials have hinted at the possibility of negotiations with Taliban, who appear permanently entrenched in the region.

Times Online

Second Taliban Attack Strikes Major Afghan City New York Times - 14 hours ago By JOHN F. BURNS KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan government troops repulsed a fresh attack late Tuesday by Taliban fighters massed outside the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah in southwestern Afghanistan and killed at least 18 of them, the provincial ... Arabs, Pakistanis Identified Among Afghan Insurgents Killed by Air ... Voice of America Amid Low Morale, Germany Set to Extend Afghanistan Mandate Deutsche Welle Play Vietnam echoes in Afghanistan Reuters via Yahoo! News - Oct 09 3:15 PM

Cambodia, Thailand exchange gunfire

In a serious escalation of tension, Cambodia and Thailand exchanged fire at a disputed border region where the two sides are fighting over an ancient World Heritage site.

Reports indicate two Cambodian soldiers were killed; seven Thai soldiers injured and ten Thai soldiers captured in the fighting over the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple.

The temple was built by Khmers, who were based in Cambodia, and was awarded to that country by the International Court of Justice in 1962.

Gunfire on Thai-Cambodian Border
New York Times - 2 hours ago
By SETH MYDANS BANGKOK - Thai and Cambodian soldiers exchanged rocket and rifle fire for about an hour on Wednesday, according to reports from the scene, threatening to escalate a tense confrontation at the border over a disputed 900-year-old ...
Fighting at Thai-Cambodia border kills 2 soldiers The Associated Press
Thai and Cambodia temple dispute spills over into deadly fighting Times Online

Cambodia, Thailand dispute troop withdrawal

Cambodia claimed that Thai troops had withdrawn from a disputed border area, but Thailand denied the claims maintaining its right to patrol the area.

Tensions over the area near the Preah Vihear temple, proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage site in July, 2008, have heated up lately with both sides threatening armed conflict.

UNESCO added the Preah Vihear temple to its World Heritage list in July 2008 Times Online Cambodia: Thailand withdraws troops from border The Associated Press - 3 hours ago Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkumnerd denied the Cambodian claim that Thai troops had withdrawn from the disputed area. "There has been no troop movement ... Cambodia, Thailand set time frame to resolve border disputes Xinhua Cambodia, Thailand resume talks on border spat AFP Thailand sends more troops to Cambodian border Swissinfo

Play New talks in Preah Vihear Temple row Reuters via Yahoo! News - Oct 13 3:54 AM