The UN-backed International Court of Justice has ordered both countries to immediately withdraw military personnel from an area surrounding Preah Vihear temple. Cambodia, granted sovereignty over the temple by the court in 1962, had asked for measures to prevent more clashes while judges interpret the previous ruling.
Battles between the neighbours near border temples have killed more than two dozen people since 2008, when a Thai court ordered a government linked to former leader Thaksin Shinawatra to withdraw support for Cambodia's bid to list Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site.
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His allies, set to return to power next month after winning Thailand's July 3 election, have pledged friendlier relations with Cambodia.''It's a good ruling that both sides have to retreat,'' Pavin Chachavalpongpun, visiting research fellow at the Institute of South-east Asian Studies in Singapore, said.
''The court ruling complements the changing political situation in Thailand and should bring some stability.''
''We will urgently initiate negotiations with Cambodia for the troop withdrawal,'' Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said. ''The decision is fair for both parties.''
The court on Monday unanimously rejected Thailand's request to dismiss the case and said it should not obstruct Cambodia's access to the temple.
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Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/world/thaicambodian-talks-on-troop-pullback-at-temple-20110719-1hn2o.html#ixzz1ScnUsueI
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