Cambodia recalled its ambassador from Bangkok on Thursday night in a tit-for-tat move following Thailand's recall of its ambassador from Phnom Penh earlier in the day to protest Cambodia's appointment of fugitive former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser.

Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sok An said the move was taken in response to Thailand's move, adding that Cambodia's ambassador would be sent back to Thailand when the latter decides to send its own ambassador back to Phnom Penh.

Earlier in the day in Bangkok, Chawanon Intarakomalyasut, the secretary to Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, told a press conference that the Cambodian government had interfered in Thailand's internal affairs and insulted its judicial system by appointing Thaksin to a government advisory position.

"We cannot keep silent," he said, adding that decision to recall the ambassador was taken to safeguard the country's interests and the sentiments of its people.

He said the Thai government will also review bilateral agreements and commitments signed between Thailand and Cambodia.

The tit-for-tat recalls comes one day after Cambodia stoked up simmering bilateral tensions by announcing that Thaksin had been appointed as a "personal adviser" to Prime Minister Hun Sen and an economic advisor to his government.

In the same statement, a Cambodian government spokesman also said Cambodia would not, "under any circumstances," extradite Thaksin to Thailand if the fugitive billionaire visits or decides to stay in Cambodia. Thailand has said it would seek Thaksin's extradition if he goes to Cambodia.

Thaksin was ousted from the premiership in 2006 in a bloodless coup. He fled Thailand in August last year shortly before a court sentenced him to two years in jail for breaking a conflict of interest law while he was in power.

Cambodia has said the charges against Thaksin and his punishment were "politically motivated," and therefore the two countries' 1998 extradition treaty is not applicable.

Ties between Cambodia and Thailand have deteriorated since Thaksin's ouster, with the two sides' armed forces coming to blows along disputed areas of the border.

Hun Sen last month further irked Thailand by announcing upon his arrival in the country in October to attend a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that he had offered Thaksin, who he regards as a close friend, a job as his economic adviser.

Thaksin has accepted the advisory job, posting a message on his twitter website Thursday that said, "I would ask for permission from the Thai people to give economic advice to Cambodian government...until I can return to the country."

"In fact, I have already served as an adviser to other governments. I take this as a way of keeping my brain sharp, otherwise it could become rusty if I don't keep abreast of new ideas and developments," he said.

Former Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Patama, who is Thaksin's close aide, said Thaksin is now in Dubai and has no plans to visit Cambodia any time soon.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban earlier Thursday was quoted by Thai media as saying the Cambodian government has a right to appoint Thaksin as an economic adviser, "But let me ask you this: what would Prime Minister Hun Sen say if we were to appoint Cambodia's opposition leader Sam Rainsy as our economic adviser?"

In response to that, Sok An said Cambodia would have no objection.

Sam Rainsy, who has long been a vocal opponent of Hun Sen and his government, issued a statement later Thursday saying, "I am surprised to see my name associated with the name of Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand on his appointment as an adviser to Cambodia's government led by Mr. Hun Sen."

"It would never come to my mind to serve a foreign government that is at odds with my own country," he said.