UNITED NATIONS, July 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Thailand and Cambodia to exercise maximum restraint, a UN spokesman said Thursday.

"The Secretary-General is following with concern reports of armed clashes at the border between Cambodia and Thailand. The Secretary-General urges both sides to exercise maximum restraint and address any issues through dialogue and in a spirit of good neighbourliness, with a view to finding a lasting solution to the dispute," said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN chief, at a daily briefing.

The situation at the Thai-Cambodian border escalated following skirmishes on Thursday. The two sides traded accusations following the escalating situation, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet urged the UN Security Council to convene an urgent meeting to discuss the matter. ■