Thai civilians forced to flee as clashes with Cambodia spread

Thailand has evacuated more than 130,000 people along its border with Cambodia as the worst fighting between the neighbours in more than a decade spreads to new areas.

- Rebecca Ratcliffe

Clashes took place in 12 locations along the disputed border, according to a Thai military official - an expansion of the conflict that erupted on Thursday.

Thai officials said 138,000 people from four border provinces had been evacuated as the country's death toll rose to 15, including 14 civilians, one of whom was an eight-year-old boy.

Cambodia's national government has not provided details of any casualties or evacuations, but a local official in Oddar Meanchey province told Reuters that one civilian had been killed and five were wounded, with 1,500 families evacuated.

Thailand's acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, told reporters in Bangkok: "This present incident of aggression is escalating and could develop to the stage of war. However, right now we are still at altercation level, battling with heavy weapons. What we have done so far is to protect our land and sovereignty of our nation."