Thai-Cambodian troops 'must leave Preah Vihear temple'

The UN's highest court has ordered Thailand and Cambodia to withdraw troops from a disputed border region near an ancient temple complex.

Cambodia had asked the International Court of Justice for the ruling after fighting broke out around the Preah Vihear temple earlier this year.
The temple belongs to Cambodia but much of the surrounding area is in Thailand.
The ICJ is attempting to clarify a 40-year-old ruling that demarcated the borders between the two nations.
The Thais want the case dropped, but they say they will respect the court's ruling.
Tension had been increasing between Cambodia and Thailand since Unesco awarded Preah Vihear World Heritage status in 2008.
Clashes broke out around the temple in February and 10 people were killed.
In April, another 18 people died in fighting along the border, around another set of temples to the west.

Posted in: asia-pac