M ORE fighting is expected over the northwest village of Treng, after it fell to
the Khmer Rouge on July 4.
The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) have
vowed to retake the village, but say the KR is digging in to prepare for a
counter-attack.
Between 300-350 rebel guerrillas - backed by seven tanks,
as well as mortars, artillery and anti-aircraft guns - are said to have been
involved in the July 4 attack.
RCAF troops retreated from the village,
about 45km southwest of Battambang town, after two hours of fighting.
On
July 5 the government announced a 1000-troop counter-attack against Treng, but
new RCAF front-lines set up about 4km from Treng did not last long.
By
the end of the next day, military officers said some 400 troops, three tanks and
several artillery pieces had been withdrawn from the front-lines.
The
retreat followed the firing of about 150 shells at government positions,
Battambang military deputy commander Brigadier-General Chea Ros.
A later
KR advance was repulsed by government counter-attack supported by 10 tanks and
five helicopter gunships.
Casualty figures remain unclear but Gen Ros
said eight RCAF soldiers were killed, and another 10 were missing, on July 5.
Six civilians were injured.
At the Post's press time, the situation
remained a stalemate. Gen Ros said 200 extra KR guerrillas had been sent to
Treng as reinforcements, while the RCAF was also preparing to try to retake the
village.
.
Treng - situated roughly halfway between Battambang and the
KR's de facto capital of Pailin - fell to the rebels in early May before the
RCAF recaptured it.
The KR is said to have seized about 350,000 rounds of
ammunition and 300 guns during their first capture of the village.
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