PHNOM PENH. Oct 9: A top resistance commander loyal to ousted co-premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh called Thursday for an end to the fighting in the country's northwest. saying it has killed too many Cambodians, reports AP.

"I don't want to pursue any more fighting l>etween Cambodians and Cambodians." said Nhek Bunchhay. who since a July 5-6 coup has led resistance forces opposing the Phnom Penh government. He is a former senior official in the royal army.

"I want to negotiate peace and see democracy take root according to the wishes of the Cambodian people," he said in a faxed statement. It also said his forces have killed at least 2.000 of coup leader Hun Sen's troops.

But he also set conditions for peace talks that the government is certain to reject.

A relatively small force of Ranariddh's loyalists have been stubbornly holding on to a small enclave at O'Smach along Cambodia's northern border since the prince was deposed by his co-premier Hun Sen.

The fighting against Hun Sen's stronger and better-equipped army also has been spreading slowly east to Preah Vihear province and to Sam-laut, 200 kilometres (125 miles) southwest of O'Smach.

Tn my name as an army commander and a Cambodian. I am very upset about the dead and wounded," said Nhek Bunchhay. adding that his troops have suffered minor casualties but "the blood which dropped on the ground is also that of Cambodians '