As Thailand accuses Cambodia of fresh assaults, will fragile peace hold?
The nations
agreed to a ceasefire starting on Tuesday after five days of clashes that killed at least 43 on both sides, as a long-standing dispute over contested border temples boiled over into open combat on their 800km (500-mile) frontier.
But Thailand's foreign ministry said its troops in Sisaket province 'came under attack by small arms fire and grenade assaults launched by Cambodian forces' in an offensive which continued until Wednesday morning.
'This represents a flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement,' a foreign ministry statement said.
An evacuee salvages items on Tuesday from her house, which was destroyed during Cambodia's artillery attacks in Sisaket province. Photo: Reuters
Thai government spokesman Jirayu Huangsab also reported overnight clashes but said in a statement that 'the Thai side maintained control of the situation' and 'general conditions along the border are reported to be normal' from 8am.
Cambodia has previously denied breaking the truce, designed to end fighting which has seen the two countries evacuate a total of more than 300,000 people from the border region.
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