Bangkok - Thailand on Tuesday said the country would defend itself from any Cambodian "use of force," while expressing "surprise" at Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's ultimatum to remove its troops from a disputed border area or face a "large-scale conflict."

Phnom Penh - Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Monday that Thai troops had been turned back during an apparent attempted foray to view the area where two Thai soldiers were severely wounded by landmines just days earlier.

Hor Namhong said he had received word of the brief standoff during his several-hour-long meeting with his Thai counterpart Sompong Amornviwat in the capital which focused on resolving a simmering border dispute.

Phnom Penh - A meeting between the Thai and Cambodian foreign ministers over an ongoing border dispute led to pledges for further meetings but a warning from Cambodia that its patience was finite, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Monday.

Hor Namhong and his Thai counterpart Sompong Amornviwat met for several hours but achieved little more than a promise of a joint border task force meeting for late October, the Cambodian side said.

Sihanoukville, Cambodia - A US destroyer arrived in the southern Cambodia deepwater port of Sihanoukville on Saturday for a five-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

The 155-meter USS Mustin (DDG-89), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, arrived with its crew of nearly 300 to embark on a goodwill mission, which will include free dental clinics, repairs of local schools and hospitals and other humanitarian work.

Phnom Penh- The Cambodian Foreign Ministry announced Friday evening that embattled Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has cancelled a scheduled visit to the country at short notice.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Sin Bunthoeurn said Thailand had given no official reason. Somchai was expected to arrive in Cambodia on Monday.

Phnom Penh - Sir Elton John, British superstar and heavyweight activist in the fight against HIV/AIDS, has told a US magazine he is planning a visit to Cambodia.

Sir Elton and partner David Furnish have raised more than 150 million dollars for projects to assist people living with the virus through the Elton John Aids Foundation since it was set up in 1992.

"This year, we look forward to traveling to Cambodia to visit projects in that country," Kansas City-based Camp Magazine quoted Sir Elton as telling journalist and gay rights activist Mark Segal.