Thai soldiers proceeded with landmine clearance along the disputed border despite opposition from Cambodia.

The military pressed ahead with the de-mining operation at frontier villages in Sa Kaeo province on Friday afternoon.

Thailand's 1st Army Area earlier informed Cambodian authorities that troops would lead the Interim Observer Team to recover landmines at Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaew.

Cambodian residents and media gathered near the area to observe the operation at 7 am.

Authorities said the situation remained calm as several Cambodian civilians had set up tents nearby.

At 1 pm local time, troops from the Burapha Task Force began mine clearance in line with resolutions made during the Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) meeting held on September 10.

The operation also coincided with Thailand's deadline for Cambodian villagers to leave the border area, which Bangkok claims lies inside Thai territory.

Those who fail to comply face prosecution under forestry and immigration laws, Thai authorities said.

Offenders may be punished with up to two years imprisonment or a fine of up to 20,000 baht. For repeat or aggravated offences, penalties could reach 16 years in jail, life imprisonment, or the death penalty, and fines exceeding 300,000 baht.

Thailand and Cambodia have been fighting for more than a century over several undemarcated sections of their 817-kilometre (508-mile) border, which was originally mapped by France in 1907 while Cambodia was still its protectorate.

But tensions flared in the long-disputed frontier as both accused each other of instigating violence on July 24, which killed at least 48 and temporarily displaced some 300,000 on both sides of the border.

Cambodia claimed responsibility for the alleged war crime of firing rockets into Thailand that struck a gas station, killing a number of children.

The two nations have reached a shaky truce following talks facilitated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

However, sabre-rattling from both sides along with agitators whipping up nationalist fervor has continued.