Thai FM resigns as battering of Government continues

THALANDI: Thailand's foreign minister resigned Thursday after being accused of jeopardizing the country's claims to land near an ancient Cambodian temple, as a raft of court cases and street protests continued to batter the five-month-old government.

"Even though I did not do anything wrong, I would like to show responsibility by resigning," Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said.

The resignation takes effect July 14. The Thai Constitutional Court ruled Tuesday that Noppadon acted unconstitutionally when he endorsed Cambodia's application to have the Preah Vihear temple registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site without first consulting Parliament on the matter.

Critics fear the endorsement undermines Thailand's claim to land near the temple, which is on the Thai-Cambodian border.

Shortly before his announcement, the main opposition Democrat Party submitted an impeachment motion against Noppadon before the upper house of Parliament, the Senate.

Bangkok, Thursday, AP