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Tensions are rising over ownership of a 4.6 sq km area between Kantharalak district in Thailand's Si Sa Ket province, and the Preah Vihear province in Cambodia. Minor skirmishes in the region have alreafy left one Cambodian solder injured.

The dispute is still before a Joint Boundary Commission that was set up to demarcate the land border between the two countries. However, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered troops into the area and issued an ultimatum to Thailand to pull its military forces out of the disputed territory.

The normally peaceful border between Cambodia and north-eastern Thailand became a hot spot on 15 July after UNESCO approved Cambodia's application to have the 11th century Preah Vihear 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.

The government of Thailand's then-prime minister, Samak Sundaravej, backed Cambodia's World Heritage site bid in July, sparking demonstrations by anti-government protesters who claimed the temple's new status would undermine Thailand's claim to the surrounding area.

Last week, about 500 Thai troups entered the region around the temple complex. Under previous agreements, Thailand and Cambodia have ten soldiers each at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda near the Preah Vihear temple and 45 around the compound on joint patrol.

On 28 July, the two nations’ foreign ministers agreed to withdraw their troops from the disputed area.

Hun Sen told reporters in Phnom Penh that he had warned Thailand's visiting Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat that without a quick pullout, Thai soldiers could face being fired upon by Cambodian troops in large-scale armed conflict.

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