New York  - The UN Security Council cancelled a meeting scheduled for Thursday on the dispute over the Thai-Cambodia border at the request of the Phnom Penh government while talks were being held by the two countries.

It was Cambodia that requested a debate by the 15-nation council. But the two countries' foreign ministers were trying to sort out their differences and Phnom Penh said the bilateral consultations had just started.

"We have cancelled the meeting pending the bilateral talks," Vietnam's Ambassador Le Luong Minh told reporters. Vietnam is holding the rotating council presidency for July.

Council members said a meeting could still be held next week if needed.

Thailand and Cambodia were close to an armed conflict over a territorial dispute regarding the location of a Preah Vihear temple as both sides have stationed troops facing one another. But Asian nations have urged them to resolve the dispute without having to resort to the use of force. (dpa)