Ousted Thai premier Thaksin lands in Cambodia amid diplomatic row

Nov 10, 2009, 2:40 GMT

   Phnom Penh - Ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra landed in Cambodia Tuesday, the Cambodian government said amid an escalating diplomatic spat over the fugitive politician.

   Government spokesman Phay Siphan told reporters that Thaksin, who last week was appointed as an adviser to the Cambodian government and Prime Minister Hun Sen, was in the country.

   'Thaksin arrived in Cambodia today at 09:45 [0245 GMT],' Phay Siphan said. 'It is a great honour for Cambodia. We hope Cambodia as a whole will greet him warmly.'

   Thailand withdrew its ambassador to Phnom Penh last week after the Cambodian government announced Thaksin's appointments. Cambodia reciprocated by recalling its ambassador as ties between the neighbours hit their lowest point in years.

   Thailand has threatened to ask for Thaksin's extradition should he arrive in Cambodia, but Phnom Penh has said it would refuse to return him to his home country 'under any circumstances' because it considers his conviction politically motivated.

   Thaksin, who was prime minister from 2001 to 2006 before being toppled in a bloodless coup, faces a two-year jail sentence in Thailand for abuse of power. He has been living in self-imposed exile, mostly in Dubai, since August 2008.

   Thaksin was overthrown after he lost the backing of Thailand's Bangkok-based middle class and political elite. He remains popular with the poor because of his populist economic policies.