Thailand bombs Poipet amid escalating border conflict

CAMBODIA said Thailand’s military bombed the casino town of Poipet yesterday, a major crossing between the two nations, as foreign powers pressured them to halt reignited border clashes.

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Thai forces “dropped two bombs in the area of Poipet Municipality, Banteay Meanchey Province” at around 11am (local time) yesterday, the Cambodian defence ministry said in a statement.

Thailand has not yet confirmed any strike on Poipet - a bustling casino hub popular with Thai gamblers.

The renewed fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours this month has killed at least 21 people in Thailand and 17 in Cambodia, while displacing around 800 000, officials said.

The conflict stems from a territorial dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of their 800km border and a smattering of ancient temple ruins situated on the frontier.

Each side has blamed the other for instigating the fresh fighting and traded accusations of attacks on civilians.