"I've been informed that we'll get a total compensation of US$50 million from Cambodia for damages of the Thai Embassy and other Thai businesses in Phnom Penh," Thaksin was quoted by the TV Channel 9 as saying.

Damages of the Thai Embassy in Cambodia were initially estimated at around 350 billion baht (about US$8.33 billion), according to the Thai team which was sent to assess the loss in Cambodia.

Besides, Thai enterprises in Phnom Penh have suffered damages of some 1.8-2.0 billion baht (about US$42.86-47.62 million), said Thailand's Commerce Minister Adisai Bodharamik.

The Thai Embassy was burned in the anti-Thailand riots on January 29. Other Thai interests in Phnom Penh, including three Thai hotels and three telecom companies owned by Thai, were also destroyed.

The two governments have established investigation groups to assess the loss after the incident. Adisai and his Cambodian counterpart Jom Prasid Thursday had a meeting on the compensation issue.

The Cambodian government had pledged to take full responsibility for damages of Thai private businesses in Phnom Penh, Adisai told reporters after the meeting.

The situation along the Thai-Cambodian border has returned to normal, the Thai radio MCOT Friday quoted a senior military officer as saying.

So far, Cambodian consumers have been allowed to cross the border to purchase food and necessities, the anonymous officer said, "but the Thai people have not been allowed to cross the border to the Cambodian side."

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2003)