Jul 29, Kathmandu - Thailand's military accused Cambodia on Tuesday of violating an hours-long ceasefire and said clashes were continuing despite an agreement to end bloody fighting along their jungle-covered border.

After peace talks in Malaysia on Monday, both sides agreed to an unconditional ceasefire starting at midnight to end fighting over ancient temples in a disputed area along the 800-kilometer (500-mile) border.

“During the implementation of the agreement, the Thai side discovered that Cambodian troops had carried out armed attacks on several areas within Thai territory,” Thai military spokesman Binthai Suberi said in a statement. “This is a deliberate violation of the agreement and a clear attempt to undermine mutual trust. Thailand is obliged to respond appropriately, exercising its legitimate right of self-defense.”

Mali Socheta, a spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, claimed that there were no armed clashes against each other in any area.

However, both sides said that morning meetings between opposing regional commanders on the border as part of the ceasefire agreement had begun or were yet to begin.

“I saw a picture of the two leaders shaking hands,” said Kittisak Sukwilai, a 32-year-old pharmacy worker in the Thai city of Surin, 50 kilometers from the border. “I just hope it’s not just a photo op with fake smiles – and that those hands aren’t actually preparing to stab each other in the back.”

An AFP journalist in the Cambodian town of Samraong, 20km from the border, said there was calm until mid-morning after the sound of explosions stopped 30 minutes before midnight.

“Peace has come to the front lines after the 12 midnight ceasefire,” Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a Facebook message on Tuesday morning.