- Title: KHMER REPUBLIC: GOVERNMENT ARTILLERY COUNTER-ATTACK ALONG HIGHWAY THREE.
- Date: 23rd June 1973
- Summary: 1. SV'S artillery firing 0.16 2. LV deserted street 0.22 3. SV'S Refugee at check point 0.51 4. SV'S truck heads toward Phnom Penh 1.09 ARTILLERY FIRING: DESERTED STREET AT KAMPON KAMTOUT VILLAGE: REFUGEE AT CHECKPOINT: LOADED TRUCK HEADING TOWARDS PHNOM PENH. Initials AE/1610 AE/1624 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All
- Embargoed: 8th July 1973 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KAMPON KAMTOUT, KHMER REPUBLIC
- Country: Cambodia
- Reuters ID: LVA57EV9Z82OD4W7MIAW6C2B73XM
- Story Text: Khmer Government artillery was brought into action on Thursday (21 June) to repel a communist attack on Highway Three about 15 miles (24 km) south of the capital Phnom Penh. Government artillery was used in other engagements on the same day along Highway's Four, Five and Seven around Phnom Penh.
The fighting around Highway Three forced residents of the small town of Kampon Kamtout to desert their homes and flee towards the capital. The communist attack was part of a concerted drive to disrupt communications around the capital. Highway Three connects Phnom Penh with the coast and the besieged provincial capital of Takeo.
Counter-attacks by Khmer Government forces has ensured that at least some supply routes to the capital remain open. Food convoys have been arriving in Phnom Penh, but uncertainty over future supply is still contributing to inflation of food prices. Two days earlier, all main roads into the capital had been cut by communist action for 24 hours.
SYNOPSIS: Khmer Republic artillery units were used to repel a communist attack on Thursday about 15 miles south of Phnom Penh. The attack was part of a communist drive aimed at disrupting communications around the capital.
The fighting forced inhabitants of the small town of Kampon Kamtout to desert their homes and flee towards the capital. The latest offensive has forced thousands more refugees to seek safety in Phnom Penh. Other areas of heavy fighting around the city include Highways Four, Five and Seven. Highway Three connects the capital with the coast and the besieged provincial capital, Takeo. Two days before, all main routes into the city had been cut for twenty-four hours, however at this time food convoys had been arriving in Phnom Penh.
Traffic, however, remains uncertain with communist forces controlling various points along the majority of the capital's highways. This uncertainty has inflated food prices at a time when even the most basic foodstuffs are in short supply.
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