Trump, who has repeatedly said he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, has been keen to intervene again to rescue the truce. Thailand suspended it last month after a Thai soldier was maimed by a landmine, one of many that Bangkok says were newly laid by Cambodia.
Cambodia, which nominated Trump for the peace prize in August, rejects the landmine allegations.
On Saturday, a Thai Defence Ministry spokesman, Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri, told a press conference that clashes had taken place across seven border provinces and Cambodia had fired heavy weapons, “making it necessary for Thailand to retaliate”.
Cambodia’s Information Ministry said Thai forces had struck bridges and buildings overnight and fired artillery from a naval vessel.
Thai leader Anutin dismissed comments by Trump that a “roadside bomb” that wounded Thai soldiers was accidental, saying the incident was “definitely not a roadside accident”.
Cambodia’s Hun Manet said he had asked the US and Malaysia, which has been a mediator in peace talks, to use their intelligence gathering capabilities to “verify which side fired first” in the latest round of fighting.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said early on Saturday that Malaysia will convene a special meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers over the situation.
“As ASEAN Chair, Malaysia will convene a Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting soon, in a way to assess the situation and support de-escalation measures,” Anwar wrote in a Facebook post.
Malaysia stands ready to support de-escalation efforts, “protect civilians and help restore regional stability”, he added.
Source: CNA
