FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Thailand has announced a curfew in the southeastern province of Trat after clashes with Cambodia spread to coastal areas of a disputed border region, just two days after US President Donald Trump said the two sides had agreed to a ceasefire.
The two Southeast Asian countries have been embroiled in armed conflict several times this year, since a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash in May. That incident reignited the old conflict, which has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes on both sides of the border.
At a press conference in Bangkok, Thai Defense Ministry spokesman Admiral Surasant Kongsiri said that "fighting has continued unabated" even after Cambodia's call for a ceasefire on Saturday.
Thailand expressed readiness for a diplomatic solution, but underlined that "Cambodia must stop the display of weapons of first hostility before we can start negotiations."
Military interventions have escalated tensions: Thai forces said on Saturday they destroyed a bridge used by Cambodia to send heavy weapons and other equipment to the conflict zone, and launched an operation to hit artillery previously deployed in the Cambodian coastal province of Koh Kong.
Cambodia for its part accused Thailand of firing on civilian infrastructure, adding to concerns about the humanitarian impact of the clashes.
The curfew imposed by Thailand covers five districts of Trat province that face Koh Kong, excluding tourist islands such as Koh Chang and Koh Kood. The military had previously imposed a curfew in the eastern province of Sakeo, which remains in effect.
Since Monday, forces from the two countries have exchanged heavy weapons fire at various points along the 817-kilometer (508-mile) border, marking some of the fiercest clashes since a five-day standoff in July. That incident ended with mediation by Trump and Malaysia.
President Trump said he had spoken to Thailand's acting Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and that the two had agreed to "cease all shooting."
However, on Saturday, Anutin declared that fighting would continue "until there is no more harm and threat to our land and people."
From Washington, a White House spokesman said Trump expects all parties to honor their commitments and that "he will hold everyone accountable as necessary to stop the killings and ensure lasting peace."
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