Prime Minister Hun Sen has urged calm among troops along the Thai border ahead of next month’s International Court of Justice’s verdict on the Preah Vihear territorial dispute, though some nearby authorities reported being on high alert yesterday.

“Coming soon, the ICJ will announce its verdict . . . and whether it goes to the interests of the Kingdom of Cambodia or Thailand, both governments cling to friendship and good cooperation from government to government, military to military and people to people,” Hun Sen said in a statement released on Friday.

Despite the prevailing peace, one border police official said that his superiors had cancelled leave and issued orders to authorities to be on their guard.

Cambodia asked the ICJ to rule on the ownership of 4.6-square kilometres surrounding the Preah Vihear temple in February 2010 after deadly clashes. Officials from the two countries are scheduled to meet today to discuss maintaining peace.