Thailand-Cambodia dispute: 130,000 Thai civilians evacuated amid second day of clashes
Thailand has evacuated more than 130,000 people along its border with Cambodia as the worst fighting between the two neighbours in more than a decade spread to new areas, with both sides firing artillery. Clashes had taken place in 12 locations along the disputed border, according to a Thai military official – an expansion of the conflict that erupted a day earlier. Thai officials said 138,000 people from four border provinces had been evacuated, as the country’s death toll increased to 15, including 14 civilians. An eight-year-old boy was among those killed. Cambodia’s national government has not provided details of any casualties or evacuations of civilians, but a local official in Oddar Meanchey province told Reuters that one civilian had been killed and five were wounded, with 1,500 families evacuated. Thailand’s acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, told reporters in Bangkok: “This present incident of aggression is escalating and could develop to the stage of war. However, right now we are still at altercation level, battling with heavy weapons. What we have done so far is to protect our land and sovereignty of our nation.” Follow link for full story...