KHMER REPUBLIC: FIERCE FIGHTING ON OUTSKIRTS OF PHNOM PENH AS GOVERNMENT TROOPS CLASH WITH COMMUNISTS.

Record ID: 375999

  • Title: KHMER REPUBLIC: FIERCE FIGHTING ON OUTSKIRTS OF PHNOM PENH AS GOVERNMENT TROOPS CLASH WITH COMMUNISTS.
  • Date: 30th April 1973
  • Summary: 1. LV & CU Government troops firing mortars (5 shots) 0.19 2. LV & CU troops advancing through undergrowth (6 shots) 0.48 3. SV & CU body in undergrowth 0.53 4. LV & SV Advance continues 0.56 5. LV Line of troops prone on ground in open section before advancing (3 shots) 1.05 6. SV Young suspect captured 1.10 7. SV Government soldier 1.12 8. SV & CU Young suspect, sitting in pit, crying while being interrogated (3 shots) 1.33 Initials ES. 1305 ES. 1415 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 15th May 1973 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WEST BANK OF MEKONG RIVER JUST OUTSIDE PHNOM PENH, KHMER REPUBLIC
  • Country: Cambodia
  • Reuters ID: LVAD584JLVO6170JHMQYKLIBODYQ
  • Story Text: Two small Battalion-sized units of Communist rocket specialists were installed within firing distance of Phnom Penh, the Khmer capital on Saturday (28 April) night, military sources reported.

    One unit was dug in on the east side of the Mekong River some distance from the banks which were occupied by Communist Infantry two days before.

    The other, to the north-east of the city, had already struck at the western suburb of Pochentong, killing 24 civilians and wounding another 55 in a barrage on friday (27 April).

    This penetration had come about despite fierce and determined fighting by Khmer Loeur troops. The Loeur are mountain people. They repulsed a communist push on Friday and drove back the opposition along the Mekong River. The east bank had been occupied by communist forces on the night of Wednesday. 25-26 April. these forces also crossed to the west bank at the some point driving back Government troops to within four miles (7 kms) of Phnom Penh.

    The highland troops come from the long-abandoned north-eastern province of Mondilkiri and are considered among the toughest soldiers in the Khmer Army.

    Visnews cameraman Neil Davis was in the thick of the action and reports that villagers and detained suspects aid the opposition was mainly Khmer with Vietnamese specialists in support.

    The action took place in difficult, heavily wooded terrain. The fighting was vicious and there were many casualties. The Government troops were temporarily encircled by the enemy. Davis had to abandon his car and get away on foot as darkness fell.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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