LOC14:27
11:27 GMT
KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (KUNA) -- Thai and Cambodian military forces traded artillery fire across the two countries' borders on Friday, the Thai Army said in a statement.
The fighting broke out early today in the provinces of Ratchathani and Surin, the army statement said, adding that the Cambodian forces used BM-21 rocket systems and heavy-caliber guns in bombarding the Thai regions on the other side of the border and the Thai forces "retaliated adequately."
Meanwhile, the Thai Ministry of Health said in a statement that 16 people including 14 civilians have been killed, 46 others, among them 15 troops, have been wounded since the latest round of border clashes erupted on Thursday. The department also reported that 100,000 people have been evacuated from border regions to safer areas.
The military clashes started after Thailand declared calling back its ambassador from the Cambodian capital and expelling the Cambodian envoy in the country. The measures were taken in the aftermath of an incident, when a Thai soldier was badly wounded in a landmine in the border region. Thailand charged Cambodia with planting the mine recently.
The border region, rich in relics, had witnessed identical clashes between 2008 and 2011. (end)
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