Monday, July 18, 2011

UN court draws DMZ for Thai, Cambodia troops

Jul 18, 2011
AP

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The U.N.'s highest court has ordered troops from both Thailand and Cambodia to immediately withdraw military forces from disputed areas around a World Heritage temple straddling their border.

The International Court of Justice was acting on Cambodia's request to order Thai troops out of the area, where at least 20 people have died in clashes since 2008.

But the court went beyond that request and drew a "provisional demilitarized zone" free of military and police from both countries.

It also called Monday on the two nations to allow ASEAN officers into the area to observe a cease-fire.

The court ruled in 1962 that the Preah Vihear temple is in Cambodian territory.

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