The acrimonious dispute, which flared into violence last week, concerns much more than a few square kilometers of rugged territory.

Thailand on Friday warned that an escalating border conflict with Cambodia could soon escalate into war between the two countries, as scores of thousands flee the area. On Thursday, Cambodian and Thai forces began exchanging fire near the ancient,

Border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia are nothing new. Disputes have persisted for more than a century along their 817km frontier, much of it poorly demarcated. A key flashpoint is the Preah Vihear temple, a 1,000-year-old Unesco World Heritage Site.