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BANGKOK - Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia Thursday after Phnom Penh gave a job to fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, accusing its neighbour of interfering in its politics and stoking tensions.
The Cambodian government said on Wednesday night that it had appointed Thaksin as an economics adviser, riling Bangkok, which is trying to bring Thaksin home to face justice three years after he was ousted in a coup.
Ties between the two countries have been strained since July 2008 amid an ongoing border conflict over land surrounding an 11th century temple which has claimed several lives.
"We have recalled the ambassador as the first diplomatic retaliation measure to let the Cambodian government know the dissatisfaction of the Thai people," Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters.
"Last night's announcement by the Cambodian government harmed the Thai justice system and really affected Thai public sentiment," Abhisit said.
He said aid projects and bilateral agreements with Cambodia would be reviewed, but checkpoints on the disputed border between the two countries would remain open."
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen first floated the job offer for Thaksin at a summit of Asian leaders last month, and the official announcement, made by royal decree, came on state television.
A Thai government official said earlier that the ambassador to Phnom Penh, Prasas Prasasvinitchai, would be recalled by Thursday evening in retaliation for Cambodia's "interference" in Thai politics.
"The reason is that the appointment of Thaksin is considered interfering in our internal politics because Thaksin is still actively involved in politics," Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Thailand's foreign affairs minister, told AFP.
Cambodia's government had no immediate comment on the Thai envoy's withdrawal, but its army said it was on alert at the border around the disputed Preah Vihear temple, where the two countries last fought in April.
"The situation remains calm, but we're on alert. The prime minister has already ordered us to protect our territory, said Chea Dara, deputy commander-in-chief of Cambodia's armed forces.
"Cambodia will not invade Thai territory, but if Thai troops enter our territory even one centimetre they will be destroyed."
The Thai and Cambodian prime ministers are both due to attend a mini summit of leaders from Mekong Basin countries in the Japanese capital Tokyo on Friday and Saturday.
Thaksin, who is living abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption, said in a Twitter posting that he thanked Hun Sen for the appointment but still wanted to work for Thailand's well-being.
"I thank His Excellency Hun Sen and I just received a copy which was signed by King Sihamoni. It's an honour. But it's not going to be fun like working to help Thai people out of poverty," Thaksin said.
The Thai government has called for Cambodia to extradite Thaksin if he enters the neighbouring country, but Cambodia says it will not and that the charges against him were politically motivated.
Twice-elected Thaksin remains a hugely influential figure in Thailand, where he has stirred up mass protests by the so-called "Red Shirt" movement against Abhisit's government in the past year.
The country remains deeply divided between his supporters and his foes. His own allies were driven from government in December 2008 after anti-Thaksin protesters occupied Bangkok's airports.
- AFP/ir
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