Staff writer
The Herald Sun (Australia)
CAMBODIA and Thailand have pulled back from the edge of war after threats to turn a disputed border area into a "life-and-death battle zone".
Cambodian military officials said yesterday afternoon that Thai troops had withdrawn from the area, hours after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum.
Hun Sen had earlier set a noon deadline for Thailand to remove about 80 soldiers he said had encroached on to a small patch of land near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple.
Cambodia warned Thailand it faced "a large-scale armed conflict" if the troops did not leave. "We try to be patient, but I told the Thai foreign minister . . . the area is a life-and-death battle zone," Hun Sen said.
Thai Premier Somchai Wongsawat yesterday called a meeting of military leaders.
Tensions between the neighbours flared in July after the Preah Vihear temple was awarded world heritage status by the UN, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.
Cambodian military officials said yesterday afternoon that Thai troops had withdrawn from the area, hours after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an ultimatum.
Hun Sen had earlier set a noon deadline for Thailand to remove about 80 soldiers he said had encroached on to a small patch of land near Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple.
Cambodia warned Thailand it faced "a large-scale armed conflict" if the troops did not leave. "We try to be patient, but I told the Thai foreign minister . . . the area is a life-and-death battle zone," Hun Sen said.
Thai Premier Somchai Wongsawat yesterday called a meeting of military leaders.
Tensions between the neighbours flared in July after the Preah Vihear temple was awarded world heritage status by the UN, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.
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