Thailand was set for an earlier than expected election after its king endorsed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's bid to dissolve parliament on Friday, as a border conflict with Cambodia raged and the government moved to head off a no-confidence vote.

Thailand has dissolved parliament after nearly a week of fresh clashes along its border with Cambodia, with a general election to be called within 45 to 60 days.

It comes after heavy fighting flared along the two countries’ border and both sides accused the other of violating their sovereignty along the contested border region.