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Cambodia issues border ultimatum Thailand 'pulls back' from border
(30 minutes later)
Cambodia's prime minister has given Thailand an ultimatum to withdraw from a disputed border area he described as a "life-and-death battle zone". Cambodia's military says that Thai troops have pulled back from a disputed border zone after its prime minister issued an ultimatum.
Hun Sen gave Thailand until noon (0500 GMT) to pull out its troops but did not say what would be the consequences of failing to do so. There was no immediate Thai confirmation of the reports which came shortly before the Cambodian deadline was due to expire.
Both countries claim they own the area around the Preah Vihear temple. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had warned of a potential "battle zone".
Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat has reportedly said that troops will not leave the area. Earlier, Thai Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat reportedly said that troops would not leave the area.
"We are in our homeland - how can they expect us to leave our home?" he was quoted by Reuters news agency as telling a reporter in Bangkok.
Singapore's foreign ministry has reportedly called for both countries to show restraint and "resolve the issue through negotiations without resorting to force".Singapore's foreign ministry has reportedly called for both countries to show restraint and "resolve the issue through negotiations without resorting to force".
Tension has been high since July, when hundreds of soldiers on both sides faced off only metres apart.Tension has been high since July, when hundreds of soldiers on both sides faced off only metres apart.
Temple tensionsTemple tensions
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had given Thailand until noon (0500 GMT) to pull out its troops but did not say what would be the consequences of failing to do so.
Cambodian army commander Brig Gen Yim Pin later said that all Thai troops had retreated and were about 1km (half a mile) from the contested territory.
He told the Associated Press that the "tense situation [had] now eased".
Thailand's foreign minister was quoted by Reuters news agency on Tuesday as telling a reporter in Bangkok: "We are in our homeland - how can they expect us to leave our home?"
The stand-off between the two countries centres on 4.6 sq km (1.8 square miles) of scrub near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment dividing the countries.The stand-off between the two countries centres on 4.6 sq km (1.8 square miles) of scrub near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, which sits on a jungle-clad escarpment dividing the countries.
An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but land surrounding it remains the subject of rival territorial claims.An international court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but land surrounding it remains the subject of rival territorial claims.
The decision by the UN in June to list Preah Vihear as a Unesco World Heritage Site reignited lingering nationalist tensions over the issue.The decision by the UN in June to list Preah Vihear as a Unesco World Heritage Site reignited lingering nationalist tensions over the issue.
In early July Cambodian troops detained three Thai protesters who had entered the site illegally, sparking the military stand-off.In early July Cambodian troops detained three Thai protesters who had entered the site illegally, sparking the military stand-off.
The two sides have already held several rounds of talks on the issue, but failed to reach agreement.The two sides have already held several rounds of talks on the issue, but failed to reach agreement.