Cambodian hostages freed from clinic

Security is tight for the Asean summit

Reports from Cambodia say security forces have brought to an end a hostage-taking incident at a hospital in the north-west of the country.

The four pretended to be patients, and pulled out rifles and held patients and doctors at gunpoint

Nhek Bunchhon
Deputy Governor

The incident began when four gunmen, posing as patients, entered the hospital and demanded cash.

The provincial deputy governor of the region told the French news agency AFP that after a gunfight with the hostage-takers, the security forces had freed all six hostages unharmed.

He said one doctor and one soldier were killed, and two of the kidnappers had committed suicide.

"The four pretended to be patients, and pulled out rifles and held patients and doctors at gunpoint," said Nhek Bunchhon, Deputy Governor of the province.

Some of the hostages are said to have escaped from the clinic overnight.

The siege began as Cambodia made final preparations for its biggest political event, playing host to the annual Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) summit, which is being attended by leaders from 15 countries.

Terrorism is top of the summit's agenda, but officials said the hostage situation was unconnected to the event.

"This is not a terrorist act," said Rath Srieng, the province's military police commander. "It's just purely a robbery."