
Thailand and Cambodia exchange fire after Trump announces ceasefire talks
At least 32 people have been killed and more than 200,000 displaced since Thursday, according to Thai and Cambodian officials.
Both sides have accused the other of starting the latest border flare-up, and traded blame for the ongoing fighting.
However, hours after Trump's announcement, Thailand's government on Sunday said it was 'not ready' to stop military operations and accused Cambodia of continuing to fire heavy artillery at civilian areas in its Surin province, on the border, and several other areas.
'Any cessation of hostilities cannot be reached' while Cambodia is 'repeatedly violating the basic principles of human rights and humanitarian law,' Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Trump said he had warned the Thai and Cambodia leaders that he would not make trade deals with either country if the deadly border conflict continues.
Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said Sunday that his country does not want a third country to mediate but was 'thankful' for Trump's 'concern.'
'We've proposed a bilateral between our foreign ministers, to conclude what conditions (would be) for ceasefire and drawing back troops and long range firing weapons,' Phumtham said at a press conference, adding that 'soldiers will continue to do their job at full steam' until there is no danger for civilians.
Thailand hit several locations in Cambodia with drones, tank fire, cluster and aerial bombs early Sunday morning local time, a spokesperson for Cambodia's defence ministry told reporters.
Some of the projectiles landed near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO world heritage site in Cambodia's northern province of the same name, according to Lt Gen Maly Socheata.
The temple complex has been at the centre of previous clashes between the two nations.
Cambodia criticised what it said were Thailand's 'deliberate and premeditated acts of aggression.'
Those acts 'have occurred despite ongoing efforts led by President Donald Trump to seek a ceasefire, efforts that have been publicly and clearly supported by Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia,' Lt Gen Maly Socheata said.
'Our forces are still striking back actively and are not afraid to protect the territory,' Maly Socheata said.
The fighting first flared on Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers.
Both sides blamed each other for starting the clashes and recalled their ambassadors, with Thailand closing its border crossings with Cambodia.
Thailand on Sunday said 19 people have been killed since hostilities began, mostly civilians.
There are more than 138,000 from six provinces displaced and staying in government shelters, according to the Ministry of Public Health.
Cambodia said Saturday that in Oddar Meanchey province, which borders Thailand's Surin, 13 people had been killed, including eight civilians, and 50 wounded.
At least 80,000 people in Cambodia have been displaced by the fighting, according to the defence ministry.
The UN Security Council has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a regional bloc, to mediate peace between the two members.
The 800-kilometre (500-mile) frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades, but past confrontations have been limited and brief.
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