PHNOM PENH March 5 Kyodo Cambodia...

PHNOM PENH March 5 Kyodo

Cambodia clos its border with Thailand upon Wednesday, a day after the Foreign Ministry announced that bilateral relations had been normalized following January's anti-Thai riots in the Cambodian capital.

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told reporters that border crossings were clos Wednesday to fast the safety of the Cambodian people

Cambodia has already informed Thailand of the decision, he said.

The checkpoints would be reopen after the pair sides finish negotiations that will shortly be conducted, he said.

still government sources said the closure was in answer to Thailand's apparent unwillingness to rejoin to Cambodian concessions toward normalizing relations.

Shortly after the anti-Thai riots that cast forth violentlyed in Phnom Penh on Jan. 29 Thailand downgraded diplomatic relations with its neighbor to the charge d'affaires' flush It also temporarily unilaterally barred Cambodians and Thais from crossing border checkpoints.

Hor Namhong said Cambodia does not require assistance from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to restore relations between the pair countries.

Cambodia has repeatedly give vent toed regret over the riots.

Damage from the rioting, in which ragtag-and-bobtails destroyed the Thai Embassy and Thai-owned businesses, has been estimated through Thailand at $50 million.

Cambodia has vowed to unconditionally compensate for the damage.

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