Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” beginning at midnight local time (1 p.m. ET Monday), following days of clashes across the two countries’ disputed border.
The ceasefire was announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), who mediated talks between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai at his official residence near the capital Kuala Lumpur.
Both sides have accused the other of starting the latest border flare-up and traded blame for the ongoing fighting, which has killed at least 35 people and injured more than 200, according to figures from Thai and Cambodian officials. The dispute over their border goes back decades.
The leaders indicated in a joint news conference that fighting will stop immediately, even as clashes continued on Monday morning in the hours before the peace talks. Cambodian authorities accused Thailand of striking at least two locations in the early hours, while the Thai army said clashes were taking place in three provinces.
Reports of fighting dragged on even after the ceasefire was announced. The head of an evacuation shelter on the Cambodian side, Dr. Moun Nara, told CNN hours after the announcement: “I still hear the sound of the shooting… It’s not yet ended yet. Let’s wait and see until midnight.”
