Cambodia said yesterday it has asked the World Court to clarify a 1962 ruling about an ancient temple on its disputed border with Thailand as clashes between the neighbours entered an eighth day.

The request ''for the interpretation of the court's judgment … concerning the temple of Preah Vihear'' was prompted by ''Thailand's repeated armed aggression to exert its claims to Cambodian territory'', the Foreign Ministry said.

Life in a temporary camp for Cambodian villagers from the border area Credit:AFP

A clarification by the court was of ''the utmost necessity … in order to peacefully and definitely settle the boundary problem between the two countries in the area'', it said.

Hopes for an end to the bloodiest fighting between the neighbours in decades appeared to have been dashed after fresh clashes broke out hours after a ceasefire deal was struck on Thursday.