Thai and Cambodian soldiers have clashed along the two countries' border in a major escalation of a festering dispute over territory that killed least 14 people, mostly civilians.

Ex Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia was not caused by a feud between his family and Hun Sen

Armed clashes on the remote, disputed border between Cambodia and Thailand have killed at least 12 people on Thursday, in a dramatic escalation of tensions that threatens to erupt into a broader conflict.

Armed clashes have broken out between Thailand and Cambodia in long-disputed border areas, rapidly escalating months-long tensions.

The Pheu Thai Party has dismissed allegations that the Thai-Cambodia border dispute stems from personal or political rivalries between the Shinawatra and Hun Sen families, instead attributing it to Phnom Penh’s dissatisfaction with Thailand’s aggressive crackdown on Cambodia-based online scam centres.

Thailand and Cambodia exchanged fire along their disputed border for a second day on Friday, officials from both countries said, with more than a dozen people reported killed and more than 135,000 civilians evacuated.

Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery fire for a second day on Friday as border fighting intensified and spread, while Cambodia's leader said Thailand had agreed to a Malaysian ceasefire proposal but then backed down.