About 70 Thais have been at the 13th Century Ta Moan temple complex since Thursday, a Cambodian official says.

The Thai foreign ministry has denied any troops have moved into the area. Maj Sim Sokha, a Cambodian border-protection officer said the Thai troops had been deployed in an 80m (262ft) radius around the Ta Moan Thom temple ground.

The two nations have for weeks been locked in a military stand-off over disputed land further east, around the ancient Preah Vihear temple.

High-level diplomacy has been taking place to resolve the Preah Vihear dispute, which revolves around border areas drawn up by French cartographers a century ago. And an agreement was reached, following a meeting between foreign ministers from both countries, to reduce troop numbers near the temple.