Thailand has requested Cambodia to move a bilateral meeting of senior security officials next week - considered crucial to de-escalating border tensions following deadly clashes - from Phnom Penh to a neutral location.

Thailand's army sent home two Cambodian soldiers from a group of 20 on Friday, ahead of a key meeting in Malaysia next week where defence ministers and military commanders will hold talks aimed at maintaining a ceasefire along their disputed border.

The fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia is hanging by a thread. Despite a Malaysia-brokered deal backed by the U.S. and China, tensions remain high. Thailand is holding nearly 20 Cambodian soldiers it claims were captured during a failed assault,