Dec 23, Kathmandu - Thai forces continued to shell and use tank-mounted machine guns in several areas of Cambodia as of Tuesday, said Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, deputy secretary and spokesman for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense.

The death toll in Cambodia has reached 21 as the border conflict with Thailand enters its 17th day, he said.

The Thai army has attacked Cambodian civilian areas, killing 21 civilians, including a child, and injuring 83 others, he told reporters in an interview.

The Cambodia-Thailand border conflict has resumed since December 7, with both sides accusing each other of launching attacks despite a ceasefire.

The conflict has so far forced some 545,000 Cambodians to flee their homes for safety, according to the latest figures released by the Cambodian Ministry of Interior.