ANKARA

Cambodia on Thursday requested Malaysia to intervene to "swiftly" secure the release of its soldiers in the Thai army's custody.

The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces commander-in-chief asked his Malaysian counterpart, who is currently acting as a ceasefire coordinator and monitor, to urge the Thai commander-in-chief to facilitate the soldiers' release, Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a statement shared on his social media page.

Thailand and Cambodia agreed Monday to an unconditional ceasefire during a meeting in Malaysia, in a significant breakthrough to resolve the five-day deadly border clashes that have killed dozens and displaced tens of thousands.

Hun said he hopes that the Thai military will return all of the Cambodian soldiers currently under their control "as quickly as possible,” as the ceasefire holds for the third day.

He said the Cambodian military has been in contact with the Thai side, urging the immediate release of the captured personnel.

"The well-being of the country's armed forces, as well as the civilians living in the affected areas, has been the highest priority of his government."

That is why the government has worked tirelessly to achieve a ceasefire as quickly as possible, he added.

Separately, Defense Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said that Cambodia has so far received the body of one of its 21 soldiers detained by Thailand during the border clashes.

Twenty others "are still being held by Thailand," she added.

Thailand and Cambodia saw ties spiral down in recent weeks as tensions escalated to cross-border airstrikes and rocket fire last week, which killed many, including soldiers.​​​​​​​

*Writing by Aamir Latif