The government said on Mar 5 that opposition forces under deposed co-Premier Prince

Norodom Ranariddh had attacked government troops in violation of a truce agreed by

both sides the previous week.

The Ministry of Defense said that Ranariddh's forces also continued to cooperate

with Khmer Rouge guerrillas.

"The extremist leaders ordered their forces to continue taking action to fight

the forces of the Royal Government with the intention of seizing [some northwestern

districts], the ministry said in a statement.

"At the same time they send small units inside the country in order to provoke

turmoil and insecurity," it said.

Ranariddh's top military commander, General Nhek Bun Chhay, denied that his forces

had broken the ceasefire.

"I strongly deny the Defense Ministry report," Bun Chhay said by telephone

from his stronghold at O'Smach on Cambodia's border with Thailand.

"The Phnom Penh government accuses us in order to atttack us," he said.

"We've been staying in our positions."

The ministry accused the opposition of violating the truce eight times over the last

week. Two government soldiers were wounded in the clashes, it said. - Reuters