CAMBODIA/THAILAND: FIGHTING CONTINUES ON THAI BORDER

(22 Aug 1997) English/Nat Fighting between Cambodian government forces and resistance troops continued around a key Thai border post on Friday. Forces loyal to Second Premier Hun Sen have been trying to move in closer on the last resistance stronghold at the border village of O’Smach. The resistance - a combination of Khmer Rouge rebels and troops backing deposed First Premier Norodom Ranariddh - have successfully put off Hun Sen’s men for more than a week now. But the fighting has sent thousands of Cambodians fleeing across the border into Thailand, cluttered together in a makeshift refugee camp. Government troops advanced once more to the frontline in northwestern Cambodia on Thursday in another effort to capture the last resistance stronghold, O’Smach, on the Thai border. Heavy small arms fire was heard coming from about one-and-a-half kilometers (1 mile) inside Cambodia as men loyal to ousted First Premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh pushed ba