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Accompanying him was Army Commander in Chief Gen Anupong Paojinda.

Thai and Cambodian troops at the Preah Vihear temple were reduced to ten each under a mutual agreement to reduce the military stand-off at the border.

However more number of troops of both countries retreated to areas about three kilometers from the temple.

Samak will reportedly cook for the Thai troops. However Suranari Task Force deploying in the area has prepared lunch for PM Samak's delegation.

Samak's Monday visit was ahead of the second Thai-Cambodia ministerial meeting at Hua Hin on Tuesday. Thai Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag will meet his Khmer counterpart; Hor Nam Hong, in an attempt to ease tension over the overlapping zones near the temple which began mid of last month.

Hor Nam Hong will be granted an audience with HM the King this afternoon.

Meanwhile security at a Hua Hin hotel in Phetburi's Cha-am district where the meeting will convene has been intensified since Sunday.

About 200 police were deployed to the area ahead of the meeting. All vehicles enter the hotel compound would be given entrance cards and screened of explosives.

Security sources expected positive outcomes from the meeting following initially agreement done last week between military commanders to reduce number of the troops at the areas. The process of troop redeployment to reduce the number of soldiers at the disputed area near Preah Vihear was completed over the weekend, Major-General Kanok Netrakavaesana, commander of Suranaree Task Force, said earlier.

Both sides stationed 10 soldiers each near Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda over which both sides claim sovereignty.

The meeting in Cha-Am this week aims to find a sustainable border-settlement solution for the area. Thailand said Cambodia has built a road, a temple and a community in the overlapping area claimed by both sides.

The governments of both sides have tried to create a friendly atmosphere for the talks.

Cambodian authorities yesterday refused to grant permission to the Cambodia Con-federation of Unions to stage a huge rally in Phnom Penh de-manding Thailand troops withdraw from the disputed border.

Chea Mony, a labour union leader, and Rong Chhun, president of Cambodia Independent Teachers, distributed leaflets instead.