Preliminary talks between Thailand and Cambodia defense officials started today in Malaysia ahead of a key ministerial level meeting on Thursday. The ceasefire, which came after five days of border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand, was reached at a meeting in Malaysia last Monday. The Thursday meeting will be observed by representatives from the United States, Chinna and Malaysia. The clashes between the Southeast Asian neighbours included exchanges of artillery fire and jet fighter sorties, claiming at least 43 lives and leaving over 300,000 people displaced on both sides of the border.