Thai judge orders dissident's extradition

A court in Thailand has ordered the extradition of a Cambodian dissident accused of attempting to assassinate his country's Prime Minister, Hun Sen.

The dissident, Sok Yoeun, who is a prominent member of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, faces charges of involvement in a rocket attack on the premier's motorcade in 1998.

The grenade went over the motorcade and killed a 12-year-old bystander.

He fled to Thailand after the attack and served a six-month prison sentence for illegal entry but was subsequently kept in jail while the authorities considered the extradition request.

Sok Yoeun claims the charges are politically motivated and says he will be executed if he is returned to Cambodia.

His lawyers said they would appeal against the court's decision.

The human rights group, Amnesty International, has described him as a prisoner of conscience.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service