Thaksin Shinawatra extradition request rejected

Cambodia has rejected an extradition request from Thailand for former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, further escalating a diplomatic row.



Mr Thaksin arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday, after being invited to work as an adviser to the government there.



Thai diplomats gave the extradition papers to Cambodia early yesterday.



However, Cambodia replied by saying it would not consider the request, because it viewed the charges Mr Thaksin faces in Thailand as politically motivated.



Mr Thaksin has been sentenced to two years in jail in absentia by a Thai court, as a result of a conflict of interest case.



According to the BBC, the former Prime Minister\'s presence just across the border from Thailand is a source of profound irritation and potential concern for the current government.