Cambodia has closed its border with Thailand at the disputed Preah Vihear temple after a group of Thai protesters rallied near the ruins, officials said here on Tuesday.
The border crossing was closed on Sunday evening when a group of Thai protesters rallied near the checkpoint, said Var Kimhong, chairman of the Cambodian government's border committee.
The reason is Thai protesters demonstrated near the gate to the temple and authorities feared that something could happen to visitors to the Preah Vihear temple, Var Kimhong said, adding that he did not know when the crossing would reopen.
The protesters rallied against a decision last week by Thailand's cabinet to give Cambodia the green light to apply for the Preah Vihear temple, which is located on a mountaintop on the Thai-Cambodia border, to be listed as a World Heritage Site.
The deal has sparked claims that Thailand would lose territory to Cambodia around the small but emotive site.
Both countries have historically laid claim to the site, which sits on Cambodian soil but can only be easily accessed from Thailand.
Cambodian former King Norodom Sihanouk took Thailand to the World Court in 1962 over the two countries' claim to Preah Vihear. The court ruled that the temple belonged to Cambodia.
Source:Xinhua
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