Cambodia, Thailand expel senior diplomats
Posted: 12 November 2009 2038 hrs

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PHNOM PENH - Cambodia expelled a top Thai diplomat and Thailand reciprocated Thursday, deepening a huge row over Phnom Penh's naming of former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an economics adviser.

The tit-for-tat moves came as Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, delivered a lecture in the Cambodian capital in which he accused Thailand's rulers of "false patriotism".

"We decided to expel the Cambodian first secretary after Cambodia expelled our first secretary from the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh," Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn told AFP.

He said Thailand had given the neighbouring country's diplomat 48 hours to leave.

Thai foreign ministry spokeswoman Vimon Kidchob said it was "necessary to take similar action" after Cambodia ordered its diplomat to leave Phnom Penh on Thursday afternoon.

There was no immediate comment from Cambodia.

Thailand and Cambodia have already recalled their ambassadors from each other's capitals in the growing quarrel over Phnom Penh's appointment of Thaksin, which was announced last week.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen further angered Bangkok on Wednesday by refusing a request for the extradition of Thaksin to serve a two-year prison sentence handed down in September 2008 in a conflict of interest case.

Thaksin, a billionaire telecommunications mogul, hit out at the government of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in an address to some 300 members of business and government at Cambodia's finance ministry on Thursday.

"I see a lot of synergy between your country and mine. What is good for you will also be good for my country. Of course not all my compatriots see it that way right now," Thaksin said.

"I do not believe those who do not share our vision right now are myopic. Their domestic political compulsions force them to false patriotism," he added.

Security officials ushered reporters out of the room three minutes into the Thaksin lecture, titled "Cambodia and the World after the Financial Crisis".

Thaksin later flew to the tourist hub Siem Reap where he was greeted by dozens of weeping "Red Shirt" supporters who crossed from northeast Thailand to give roses and hugs to the tycoon as he arrived at a hotel.

He later toured Angkor Wat temple escorted by Hun Sen's bodyguards.

He is scheduled to play golf Friday with Hun Sen, his long-time ally and friend, officials said. Thaksin arrived on Tuesday and is expected to leave Friday or Saturday.

In Bangkok, around 120 protesters rallied outside the Cambodian embassy, watched over by dozens of police.

Abhisit on Thursday ordered a review of two road construction projects with Cambodia which involved loans of more than 1.4 billion baht (42 million dollars) to Phnom Penh, the Thai finance ministry said.

Thailand has already put all talks and cooperation programmes with Cambodia on hold and tore up an oil and gas exploration deal signed during Thaksin's time in power.

Abhisit said he was considering further measures but vowed that his government would not seal off checkpoints on the border and said that the rift with Phnom Pen would not lead to violence.

"I don't want the situation going out of control," he said.

Tensions were already high between the two nations following a series of clashes over disputed territory near an ancient temple and the row threatens to mar a weekend summit of regional leaders with US President Barack Obama.

Twice-elected Thaksin fled Thailand in August 2008, a month before his jail sentence was announced. He had returned to Thailand just months earlier for the first time since the coup.

But he has retained huge influence in Thai politics by stirring up protests against the current government, and analysts said that in Hun Sen he had found a new way of pushing his campaign for a return to power.

- AFP /ls