Thailand, Myanmar seek to mend ties

Thailand, Myanmar seek to mend ties

BANGKOK (Reuters): Thailand indicated on Wednesday it wanted to improve its diplomatic ties with Myanmar's military government after a series of border incidents strained relations.

The chief of Thailand's army, Surayuth Chulanont, said before departing on a three-day official visit to Yangon that his mission was to sooth relations between the two neighbors.

Relations between Thailand and Myanmar have been tested in recent months after a series of marine gun battles along disputed border areas between the southern Thai province of Ranong and Myanmar's Victoria Point.

At least seven people have been killed in the incidents, involving armed Myanmar vessels and the Thai navy. The clashes have occurred sporadically since the middle of 1998.

Both countries claim the dispute area, which covers a 100 kilometer offshore border in the Andaman Sea.