Cambodia says ready for troop pullback

[Coventina]

Source: Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodian officials said Friday that their troops are ready to pull back from the frontier with Thailand under an agreement to ease a month of military tension on disputed territory near an ancient border temple.

The standoff erupted near the 11th century Preah Vihear temple on July 15 after UNESCO, the U.N.'s cultural agency, approved Cambodia's application to have the complex named a World Heritage Site. Both countries have long held claim to the temple, but the World Court awarded it to Cambodia in 1962.

About 800 troops from Cambodia and 400 from Thailand have been facing off in the area for a month.

"We are waiting for an order to follow, but both sides must act together," Col. Meas Yoeurn, a deputy commander of Cambodian troops in the area, said by phone Friday. "If Thai troops begin pulling back, we will also begin pulling back."



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h6tp2tO94iKNqIquUil4we_HH52QD92ILRN80

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Due to the time difference, this pullback should be occurring in just a few hours.

Keeping my fingers crossed that it all goes well and this situation will finally be defused...