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UN help sought over temple row | UN help sought over temple row |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Cambodia has asked the UN Security Council for an emergency meeting to resolve a tense stand-off with Thailand near the site of an ancient temple. | Cambodia has asked the UN Security Council for an emergency meeting to resolve a tense stand-off with Thailand near the site of an ancient temple. |
For the past week, more than 500 Thai and 1,000 Cambodian soldiers have been stationed on opposite sides of disputed land near Preah Vihear temple. | |
The standoff began when the UN approved Cambodia's application to have the complex named a World Heritage Site. | The standoff began when the UN approved Cambodia's application to have the complex named a World Heritage Site. |
Bilateral talks on Monday failed to resolve the row. | Bilateral talks on Monday failed to resolve the row. |
A quickly-arranged foreign ministers' lunch on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Asean regional meeting in Singapore also failed to produce any agreement, officials said. | |
Cambodia is seeking third-party mediation, but Thailand wants to resolve the dispute at a bilateral level, officials from both sides said. | |
'Utmost restraint' | 'Utmost restraint' |
At the heart of the dispute is a 4.6 sq km (1.8 sq mile) area around the 11th Century temple. class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7507425.stm">Tensions driving the temple row class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7352186.stm">In pictures: Preah Vihear | |
The International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia in 1962, but areas around it remain the subject of rival territorial claims. | |
Earlier this month Unesco listed the temple as a Cambodian World Heritage Site, reigniting nationalist tensions, particularly in Thailand. | Earlier this month Unesco listed the temple as a Cambodian World Heritage Site, reigniting nationalist tensions, particularly in Thailand. |
Opposition forces there have been using the issue to attack the government - which initially backed the heritage listing. Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama has resigned over the issue. | Opposition forces there have been using the issue to attack the government - which initially backed the heritage listing. Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama has resigned over the issue. |
Thai troops moved into the area more than a week ago, after Cambodian guards arrested three Thai protesters, and since then both sides have increased their military presence. | Thai troops moved into the area more than a week ago, after Cambodian guards arrested three Thai protesters, and since then both sides have increased their military presence. |
The two nations attempted to reach an agreement on Monday, during bilateral talks on the opening day of the Asean regional summit in Singapore. | The two nations attempted to reach an agreement on Monday, during bilateral talks on the opening day of the Asean regional summit in Singapore. |
But officials said the discussions stalled over which maps should be used to settle ownership. | But officials said the discussions stalled over which maps should be used to settle ownership. |
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told the Asean meeting that both nations had promised to exercise "utmost restraint" and abide by international laws to resolve the issue amicably. | Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told the Asean meeting that both nations had promised to exercise "utmost restraint" and abide by international laws to resolve the issue amicably. |
Shortly after that, Cambodia appealed to the United Nations to resolve the row "in order to avoid armed confrontation". | |
The dispute comes at a difficult time for Thailand, which is due to take over the rotating chairmanship of Asean next week. | The dispute comes at a difficult time for Thailand, which is due to take over the rotating chairmanship of Asean next week. |
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