After five days of fierce fighting, Cambodia and Thailand agreed to an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" from midnight (1700 GMT) on Monday.

After days of efforts by Malaysia, chair of the ASEAN regional bloc, the United States and China to bring both sides to the table, the two countries' leaders agreed to end hostilities, resume direct communications and create a mechanism to implement the truce. At least 36 people have been killed in the fighting, mostly civilians, reports Reuters.

Following more than two hours of talks at his official residence in Putrajaya, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, flanked by Thai and Cambodian leaders, said he was ready to deploy a team to observe and ensure implementation.

"This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security," he told a press conference. "All parties shared a commitment to peace."

BORDER DISPUTE HAS FESTERED FOR DECADES

The Southeast Asian neighbours have wrangled for decades over border territory and have been on a conflict footing since the killing of a Cambodian soldier in a skirmish late in May, which led to a troop buildup on both sides. 

A full-blown diplomatic crisis brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse.

They accuse each other of starting the fighting last week, both quickly deploying heavy artillery at multiple points along their 800-km (500-mile) land border. Thailand flew air raids with an F-16 fighter jet.

US President Donald Trump called both leaders at the weekend, warning he would not conclude trade deals with them unless they ended the fighting. Both sides are facing a steep import tariff of 36% on their goods in the US, their top export market.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet thanked his acting Thai counterpart Phumtham Wechayachai for what he said was a positive role and said he deeply appreciated Trump's "decisive mediation" and China's constructive participation.

"We agreed that the fighting will stop immediately," he said, expressing confidence that both sides could rebuild trust and confidence.

"The solutions proposed by Prime Minister Anwar will set the conditions for moving forward with bilateral discussions, returning to normalcy, and forming the foundation for future de-escalation."

Responding to the ceasefire, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump "made this happen". "Give him the Nobel Peace Prize!" Leavitt posted on X.

Tensions boiled over last week after Thailand recalled its ambassador to Phnom Penh and expelled Cambodia's envoy, in response to a second Thai soldier losing a limb to a landmine that Bangkok alleged Cambodian troops had recently laid.

Cambodia has strongly denied the charge, as well as Thai accusations that it has fired at civilian targets including schools and hospitals.

Hun Manet last week accused Thailand of "unprovoked and premeditated military aggression".

This map shows the locations where military clashes have occurred along the disputed border between Thailand and Cambodia.

This map shows the locations where military clashes have occurred along the disputed border between Thailand and Cambodia.

MSH

At least 34 people, including two babies were killed when a contraband fuel depot exploded into flames in southern Benin near the border with Nigeria on Saturday.

According to Beninese Interior Minister Alassane Seidou, “a serious fire occurred in the town of Seme Podji. Another 20 people were seriously wounded in the incident.”

"I can't really give you the cause of the fire, but there is a large gasoline warehouse here and cars, tricycles and motorcycles come from morning to evening,” he added.

Nigeria is a main oil and gas producer where fuel smuggling is very common along its borders, particularly when the government maintains a subsidy to keep fuel prices low.

The majority of the victims were burnt and they could not be not be identified.

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