1.
GV Prek Kdam PAN TO ferry crossing
0.06

2.
SV Khmer Krom troops arrive with equipment (3 shots)
0.20

3.
GV Troops standing by mortar
0.22

4.
SV & CU Mortars fired across river (3 shots)
0.30

5.
SV & CU Machine-gun firing across river (3 shots)
0.42

6.
LV Fire on opposite bank
0.46

7.
SV Troops moving out (2 shots)
1.04

8.
SV Troops boarding riverboat (2 shots)
1.10

9.
SV Armoured trick loaded onto ferry
1.14

10.
CU Khmer Krom troops
1.15

11.
SV Boat moving out
1.18

12.
GV Villagers look on PAN TO boat & ferry up river
1.26



Initials AH/BOB/VC/1049 AH/BOB/SGM/1056



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Cambodian troops on Tuesday (December 1) reoccupied the strategic Prek Kdam village 20 miles (32 kms.) north of Phnom Penh. The village's ferry crossing over the Ton Le Sap river controls routes to the whole of northern Cambodia.

The east bank of the crossing was seized by Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops on Monday. The Cambodian government sent in the crack Khmer Krom soldiers -- Cambodians who were born and received military training in Vietnam.

Many of these soldiers were only 18 years old. But most have had up to four years experience of fighting in Vietnam.

They pumped mortar and machine-gun fire into the east bank, which seemed to be deserted. They ferried the Tonle Sap in two river boats.

A High Command statement said that a number of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese were killed and captured during the operation.

At the same time, Government forces were fighting Viet Cong troops in an effort to recapture a village on a main highway 16 miles 25 Kms) from the ferry crossing. Villagers fleeing before the advancing Viet Cong had been told that the guerrillas would shortly attack the Cambodian capital.