Fighting rages on Cambodia-Thailand border

Fighting raged Thursday along the border of Cambodia and Thailand, with explosions heard near centuries-old temples ahead of US President Donald Trump's planned phone call to the leaders of both nations.

At least 20 people have been killed in the latest round of border fighting that reignited last week, officials said.

Around 600,000 people, mostly in Thailand, have fled border areas near where jets, tanks and drones have waged battle.

The Southeast Asian nations dispute the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometre (500-mile) frontier, where both sides claim a smattering of historic temples.

This week's clashes are the deadliest since five days of fighting in July killed dozens before a shaky truce was agreed, following intervention by Trump.

The US president said he expected to speak with the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia to demand a halt to the clashes.

"I found they were two great leaders, two great people, and I've settled it once," Trump told reporters Wednesday at the White House.

"I think I can get them to stop fighting," he added.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said there had been "no coordination" yet with Trump.

"But if there's a call from the US president, we definitely will answer the phone," Anutin said.

Adding to the uncertainty, he signaled in a Facebook post late Thursday that he would move to dissolve parliament earlier than expected.

Thailand's third prime minister in three years, Anutin had been widely expected to dissolve parliament after Christmas and hold a vote by early 2026.

In Washington, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had not yet made the promised calls but "the administration is obviously tracking this at the highest levels and is very much engaged."