Cambodia and Thailand agree to ASEAN observers to ensure ceasefire holds

Cambodia and Thailand's top defense officials agreed on Thursday to allow observers from the ASEAN regional bloc to inspect disputed border areas and help ensure hostilities do not resume following a violent five-day conflict that ended in a ceasefire late in July.

Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha and Thai Deputy Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit met at Malaysia's Armed Forces headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday to thrash out the terms of a permanent cessation of hostilities.

"There will be an observation team of ASEAN military attaches based in Thailand and Cambodia, led by Malaysia," Nattaphon told reporters at a press conference after the meeting, adding that foreign inspectors based in either country would not cross the border.

"Thailand and Cambodia are neighbours with a shared border that can move away from each other ... a resolution will allow our people to return to peaceful lives," he said.

Thailand and Cambodia said in a joint statement that they would hold more talks in two weeks and then again in a month.

The peace conditions were formulated during three days of talks between senior officials in Kuala Lumpur and were finalized on the fourth day in the presence of observers from China and the United States.

"Both sides agreed on the terms of implementation of the ceasefire and improving communication between the two armies," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on social media.

(With input from Reuters)