Thai foreign minister resigns over temple dispute

Bangkok: Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama resigned on Thursday after a political row over Bangkok's support for the listing of a disputed ancient temple on the Thai-Cambodian border as a World Heritage site.

Noppadon was facing impeachment by the opposition Democrat Party. He told a press conference his resignation would take effect on Monday.

Earlier, Top Thai politicians said the foreign minister was expected to resign soon as a raft of court cases and street protests battered the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

The opposition had demanded his resignation over a dispute with Cambodia involving an ancient temple on the Thai-Cambodian border.

The Thai Constitutional Court ruled on 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 feared the endorsement undermines Thailand's claim to land near the temple.