At least six more fragments of what Prime Minister Hun Sen has called an “unmanned reconnaissance aircraft” were discovered by Preah Vihear provincial authorities in Kulen district on Monday, officials said yesterday.

“Six pieces of the plane have been handed over to national experts for further investigation while authorities are looking for other parts of the aircraft,” provincial police chief Mao Pov said, adding that the aircraft had exploded above the province on August 16.

According to the Defence Ministry, the fragments were found about 64 kilometres from the Provisional Demilitarised Zone around Preah Vihear temple, which was created by the International Court of Justice last month.

At the Interior Ministry on Thursday, Hun Sen said that he wanted to investigate terrorism-related possibilities after the Thai government denied that the aircraft was its own.

Hun Sen also requested foreign assistance with an investigation of the wreckage and an examination of a “black box” he claimed had been found by officials at the crash site.

Defence Ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat said yesterday: “We have not received any information regarding cooperation [from other countries].”