In a statement issued Thursday, Hun Sen blamed "a handful of extremists incited the anti-Thai violence Wednesday night with spreading lies that the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok was destroyed while a number of embassy staff were killed."

"We really need independence, territorial integrity and our value, but we unavoidable also need a good relationship with the neighboring countries and the nations in the region and in the world," Hun Sen said.

The anti-Thai violence was sparked by a Thai movie star's remarks that reportedly said Cambodia's famous Angkor Wat temple belonged to Thailand.

It was estimated that about 10 Thai-owned businesses were damaged including hotels, companies, radio and TV stations, as well as Thai Embassy in Cambodia. The total losses and casualties are not yet available now.

"We have to resolve the remaining problems with neighboring countries by peaceful means," Hun Sen stressed. "We also need good relations with the neighboring countries where are also the members of ASEAN."

The capital Phnom Penh was returned relative calm Thursday with more military police deployed at the main streets and the Thai-owned establishments. Two armored personnel carriers still stood careful watch outside the Thai Embassy which was burned down by mobs Wednesday night.

"The security, social order and happiness of the people in Phnom Penh were also seriously affected, of which Cambodia has never suffered since the country achieved a complete peace over the past four years," Hun Sen said in his statement.

"The nation and Cambodian people are the big sufferers," the premier said, adding that "it clearly showed that a group of extremists dare do anything regardless the cost and what suffering the Nation and people might face."

"They tried to turn individual case and culture into a conflict of the race and between nation to nation, turning the past problem to the present one in order to provoke anger by using violence to resolve that problem," Hun Sen added.

The premier again appealed to Cambodians to "calm down and maintain our political stability, security and social order."

(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2003)