Eight Thai officials encroach Laos territory : Laos FM

Laos said on Thursday that it did not know whereabouts of the eight Thais after news broke out in Thailand that they were detained.

Lao Foreign Ministry's spokesman Yong Chanthalangsy told AFP that the eight Thai nationals had been arrested three days ago in Xayabouly province of Laos and that it was in talks with Bangkok to free them "very soon."

"On July 10, local authorities in Xayabouly province arrested seven Thai soldiers and one civilian who made an incursion into our territory," said Yong Chanthalangsy, who added that Laos needed more time to question the men.

A local Thai official denied that the eight had entered Laos, saying it was a mountainous area where the border was not clearly demarcated.

"These eight people did not intrude into Laos territory, I think it was a misunderstanding," said Sompong Anuyuthapong, governor of Nan province.

He told AFP Lao authorities had said Thailand would have to collect the eight men on July 16.

Earlier Thai Defence Minister Boonrawd Somthat said Laos is expected to freethe eight Thai officials on July 16.

"Now everything is settled. Laos was explained about the incident and it understood," he said.

The army said earlier that the group led by Captain Somsak Phummarin, commander of Company 3203, was captured at the area near Phu Sam Sao in Xianghon district, one kilometre from the border.

They left Thailand at 9am on Tuesday for Xayabouly to seek cooperation on anti narcotic activities along the border area, he said. They were familiar with their Lao counterparts as they regularly visited the province, he added.

AFP/The Nation