Thai, Cambodian forces continue armed clashes, with death toll on both sides reaching 35
Thailand releases revised list of casualties, revealing 22 deaths -- 14 civilians and eight soldiers -- and 140 injuries, with Cambodian death toll remaining at 13
Istanbul
- US President Trump says warring Southeast Asian nations agreed to promptly start ceasefire negotiations after days of deadly border conflict, which began on Thursday
ISTANBUL
The death toll from ongoing clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces rose to 35 on Sunday, as US President Donald Trump called for a cease-fire between the two Southeast Asian countries.
Thailand released a revised list of casualties, revealing 22 deaths -- 14 civilians and eight soldiers -- and 140 injuries, according to the Thai Enquirer, a local English daily.
The Cambodian death toll remained at 13, and tens of thousands of people from both sides of the border were evacuated.
Cambodian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said that Thai forces continued to “invade Cambodian territory,” accusing the Thai side of firing artillery shells and rockets into the Cambodian side, according to the daily Khmer Times.
Separately, Thai army spokesman Richa Suksuvanon said the Cambodian forces opened artillery fire on various regions, causing damage to the infrastructure, according to Thai PBS.
He added that the Thai side "will only cease fire when Cambodia comes to negotiate,” indicating that the fighting between the two Southeast Asian neighbors dragged on for the fourth day.
Trump on Saturday spoke with the prime ministers of Cambodia and Thailand, calling on them to begin ceasefire negotiations, which he said they agreed to.
Soldiers' remains handed over
Thai authorities handed over the bodies of 12 Cambodian soldiers killed in clashes to Cambodian officials on Sunday, according to the Thai Enquirer.
The remains were turned over at the Chong Sa-ngam permanent border crossing in Si Sa Ket's Phu Sing district.
There was no immediate word from Cambodia regarding the transfer of soldiers' remains.
The Thai army claimed that the operation followed "humanitarian principles, honoring all soldiers who died in the line of duty, regardless of nationality."
The Southeast Asian neighbors have a border dispute along Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and Thailand's northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, with renewed tensions since May 28, when a Cambodian soldier was killed.
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