Furious Thai nationalists protested in Phuket over a botched phone call between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian ex-despot Hun Sen.

Hundreds of locals on Thursday rallied at the Queen Sirikit Park to demand the Thai premier step down, following the leaked conversation in which she appeared to kowtow to her neighbouring counterpart.

Footage shows residents carrying Thai flags and banners as they called for Paetongtarn to resign. The gave speeches on a sound truck, on which a banner hung reading: 'Rebels, traitors to the nation, a grave burden to the country, GET OUT.'

One of the protesters, Pairoj Ruamphanphong, said: ‘I am a part of those who love the nation, religion and the monarchy. I want to encourage the commander of the 2nd Army Region, the Border Patrol Police, and the brave soldiers of Thailand who are at the various borders.

‘We're sending all hearts together as one to the commander of the 2nd Army Region and the brave soldiers at the borders. I pray for all soldiers to always be safe every second.'

The public outrage came after Paetongtarn, daughter of former Man City owner Thaksin Shinawatra, was heard in a 17-minute audio recording speaking with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen about a recent border dispute that has strained Thailand's ties with Cambodia.

She reportedly adopted an obsequious tone, calling Hun Sen 'uncle' as she blamed a rogue Thai army general for the rising territorial tensions.

She allegedly said through a translator present during the call: ‘I don't want you to listen to our opponents like the commander of the Second Army Region because he is a man of the opponents. After hearing what he said, I don't want you to be upset or frustrated because actually it is not our intention.

‘He wanted to look smart. So, what he said was not beneficial to the nation.'

She also reportedly promised Hun, who lost an eye fighting the Khmer Rogue in the 1970s, to 'take care of anything he wants'.

The call, which happened on Monday, was leaked on Facebook by the former Cambodian leader himself on Wednesday.

Paetongtarn has since apologised over the conversation, which she defended as a 'negotiation tactic' to appease her Cambodian counterpart.

She said: 'I would like to apologise for the leaked audio of my conversation with a Cambodian leader which has caused public resentment.'

Despite Paetongtarn's attempts to quell public fury, Thailand's coalition government is now on the brink of collapse as a key member, the Bhumjaithai Party, announced it was withdrawing from the alliance.

In a statement, the party said: 'Bhumjaithai party calls on Paetongtarn to show responsibility for her actions that have made the country, people and army lose dignity.'

The departure leaves Paetongtarn's Pheu Thai party with barely enough votes to form a majority. Thailand may hold another snap election, just two years after the last one in May 2023, if another party decides to pull out of the ruling coalition.

Tensions between the two countries have intensified following a deadly clash between their troops in a disputed area of Ubon Ratchathani, on May 28.

The skirmish killed a Cambodian sergeant. Thailand said it was committed to resolving the dispute conflict through bilateral means, while Cambodia has vowed to bring the case before the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Thailand and Cambodia have a fractious history. The Khmer Empire once stretched across much of Southeast Asia before the ancient leaders moved their base south to Phnom Penh in the 16th century amid water shortages.

Thai tribes used it as a chance to encroach and claim much of the deserted land, including priceless sandstone temples and artefacts.

In the 1970s, Thailand supported the Khmer Rouge while they carried out one of the world's worst ever genocides. The country then provided sanctuary for the group's murderous leaders, even allegedly stealing aid funds that were intended to rebuild Cambodia.