Cambodia’s defence ministry said Tuesday that Thai forces shelled Cambodian positions overnight, killing two more civilians and raising the civilian death toll in the renewed border clashes to six, reports AFP.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the ministry said Thai troops fired into Banteay Meanchey province shortly after midnight, striking National Road 56 and killing two civilians who were travelling along the route.
Information Minister Neth Pheaktra told AFP that at least four Cambodian civilians had already been killed on Monday by Thai shelling in the neighbouring provinces of Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey. Around 10 others were wounded, he said.
The Thai army has reported one soldier killed and 18 wounded since the latest round of fighting erupted on Sunday.
Both countries have blamed each other for provoking the renewed clashes, which escalated sharply on Monday when Thailand launched air strikes and deployed tanks against Cambodian positions.
The conflict stems from a century-old dispute over territory mapped during France’s colonial rule, with both sides claiming several frontier temples and the surrounding land.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
