Cambodia's ancient temple complex of Angkor has been removed from Unesco's list of world heritage sites in danger, the organisation said.

It was one of three places removed from the list of 35 sites by the 21-member world heritage committee.

Oman's massive earthen Bahla Fort and Uganda's Ruwenzori Mountains National Park were also removed from the list.

The Angkor complex had deteriorated due to illegal excavation, pillaging and landmines, Unesco said.

However, the preservation of the 400sq km (154sq mile) site was "reasonably secure" and the restoration activities co-ordinated by Unesco since 1993 could be considered a "success story", the committee said.

Angkor contains the remains of successive Khmer capitals built from the 9th to 15th Centuries and the Angkor Wat temple, which appears on the country's flag.

It remains on Unesco's 788-site world heritage list where it was placed in 1992.

International co-operation

"The removal of Angkor from the danger list is a commendation to the efforts made by the Cambodian government," Ros Borath, deputy director of Cambodia's Department of Monuments and Archaeology, was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

"It is also a commendation to the international co-operation on the conservation of Angkor."

The Unesco committee was meeting for its 28th world heritage conference in the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou.

Oman's Bahla Fort was entered on the world heritage list in 1987 and the danger list a year later.

Improved management and Oman's decision to stop using modern materials and construction techniques near the site led to its removal from the danger list, Unesco said.

Uganda's Ruwenzori Mountains National Park, home to endangered animals and unusual flora, was put on the danger list in 1999 due to lack of resources and insecurity.

Unesco was now satisfied that the authorities have regained control over the park, restored security and re-established proper management.