Cambodia says Thailand's political unrest affects ASEAN's image+

PHNOM PENH, May 17 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The Cambodian government said Monday the political unrest in Thailand has affected the image of ASEAN as a whole and urged the Thai government and antigovernment protesters to reach a political settlement through dialogue.

"The current awful situation in Thailand has gravely affected not only Thailand's image, but also that of ASEAN as well," the Cambodian government said in a statement.

Cambodia "urges all parties concerned in Thailand to resume peaceful talks in order to achieve a political settlement to the current standoff and restore peace and normalcy to the Thai people, thus stability in the region," the statement said.

The death toll from four days of clashes between troops and antigovernment protesters in Bangkok rose to 36 Monday following overnight violence in which an air force officer was shot dead and a luxury hotel was hit by grenades.

Since antigovernment protests began in mid-March, 59 people, including five soldiers and two policemen, have been killed and more than 1,100 others wounded, mostly in the April 10 clashes between security personnel and protesters.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.