Thai and Cambodian leaders are set to convene in Malaysia for peace talks.

Thailand and Cambodia are set to hold talks in Malaysia on Monday to reach a ceasefire in their deadly border dispute. The United States is assisting in the peace process, with State Department officials in Malaysia to assist in peace efforts. Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified since the killing of a Cambodian soldier in late May. Border troops on both sides were reinforced amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand’s fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse. Hostilities broke out last Thursday and have escalated into the worst fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in more than a decade. The death toll has risen above 30, including more than 20 civilians, while authorities report that more than 200,000 people have been evacuated from border areas. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has proposed ceasefire talks soon after the border dispute erupted into conflict, and China and the United States also offered to assist in negotiations. Thailand has said it supports calls for a ceasefire in principle but wanted to negotiate bilaterally, while Cambodia has called for international involvement.

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