LEAD: Cambodia, Thai troops exchange fire near disputed border area+

BANGKOK/PHNOM PENH, Jan. 24 (AP) - (Kyodo)—(EDS: ADDING BANGKOK TO DATELINE, INFO FROM THAI MILITARY SOURCE)

Cambodian and Thai troops exchanged brief fire Sunday morning near the disputed area of Preah Vihear Temple but there were no casualties, a Cambodian military official and a Thai military source said.

There were, however, conflicting reports about how the firefight occurred, reportedly at 9:15 a.m. at Choam Te, some 20 kilometers east of Preah Vihear Temple.

According to the Thai military source, the incident occurred while Thai troops were patrolling in the border area to look for illegal logging and they met Cambodian soldiers by accident.

The source said the Thai soldiers were told by Cambodian soldiers to put down their weapons and they refused.

"When we refused to put down the guns, they (Cambodian soldiers) started opening fire on us and we fired back...for around 20 minutes," the source said.

In Phnom Penh, Gen. Chhum Socheat, spokesman for Cambodia's National Defense Ministry, told Kyodo News that Thai troops fired at Cambodian troops patrolling in the area, and Cambodian troops returned fire immediately afterward.

Cambodian officials said the incident took place as Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong visited Preah Vihear Temple on Sunday to inspect the border situation and presented foodstuff to Cambodian soldiers based near the border area.

Since the border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand began in 2008, there have been two rounds of military clashes, which left several people dead or injured on both sides.

The dispute erupted after Cambodia's Preah Vihear Temple was listed as a World Heritage site by the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The dispute apparently stems partly from conflicting border maps.