Thailand-Cambodia clashes continue as thousands displaced

Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia entered a second day on Friday, killing at least 16 people and displacing tens of thousands, as world leaders call for a ceasefire.

Intense fighting at a disputed border erupted Thursday, marking a dramatic escalation of the dispute between the two South East Asian neighbours that dates back more than a century.

In Thailand, clashes in the Ubon Ratchathani and Surin provinces wounded dozens and displaced more than 100,000 civilians. Some 1,500 families in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province have been evacuated.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he has appealed to leaders of both countries for an immediate ceasefire.

"I welcome the positive signals and willingness shown by both Bangkok and Phnom Penh to consider this path forward," Anwar, who chairs the Association of South East Asian Nations or Asean, wrote on Facebook.

Thailand says 14 civilians and one soldier have been killed so far. Provincial authorties in Cambodia said at least one civilian in Oddar Meanchey was killed.

The US has also called for an "immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and a peaceful resolution of the conflict".

"We are ... gravely concerned by the escalating violence along the Thailand Cambodia border, and deeply saddened by reports of harm to civilians," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said at a regular media briefing.

China, which has political and strategic ties with Cambodia and Thailand, said it is "deeply concerned" over the conflict and hope both sides can resolve issues through dialogue and consultation.

Australia, the European Union and France have also called for peace.

The United Nations Security Council is expected to meet on Friday over the conflict.

In a letter to the council on Thursday, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet had urged it to intervene to "stop Thailand's aggression".

Thailand and Cambodia have accused the other of firing the first shots on Thursday.

Thailand claims the clash began with Cambodia's military deploying drones to conduct surveillance of Thai troops near the border.

Cambodia says Thai soldiers initiated the conflict when they violated a prior agreement by advancing on a Khmer-Hindu temple near the border.

The dispute between the two countries dates back to more than a hundred years ago, when the borders of the two nations were drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia.

There were sporadic clashes over the years which saw soldiers and civilians killed on both sides.

The latest tensions ramped up in May after a Cambodian soldier was killed in a clash. This plunged bilateral ties to their lowest point in more than a decade.