Heavy fighting erupts in western Cambodia

July 22, 1981

Heavy fighting involving tanks and rockets broke out between Vietnamese-led Cambodian government forces and Khmer Rouge guerrillas in border areas of western Cambodia. Military sources said troops of the Heng Samrin government attacked Khmer Rouge guerrillas entrenched in areas about 10 miles east of the Thai border town of Aranya Prathet.

About 300 troops of the noncommunist Khmer Serei (Free Khmer) resistance group had fled into Thailand, possibly from attack by forces loyal to former Cambodian Prime Minister Son Sann, sources said. The two groups are vying for control of the border po pulation.