Cambodian opposition begins mass protest against election victory of ruling party

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua) - Thousands of Cambodia's opposition party supporters began Sunday a mass demonstration by marching to the capital's Freedom Park against the results of the July 28 election that gave victory to Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party.

Accompanied by over 1,000 supporters, Sam Rainsy, president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), has marched from the party's headquarters in the southern part of the city to the Freedom Park.

Security has been tightened throughout the city as barbed wire barricades have been placed across some major roads.

Sam Rainsy said Saturday that the protest would last for three days. However, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng has said that the ministry allowed the CNRP to hold only one- day peaceful protest from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time on Sunday.

The protest came a day after a meeting between Sam Rainsy and Hun Sen under the auspices of King Norodom Sihamoni had reached no any agreement over the election impasse. But the two political rivals would meet again on Monday at the National Assembly in a last-ditch attempt to break through the political stalemate, the two parties said.

The National Election Committee (NEC) has released the election results last Sunday, confirming that the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Hun Sen got victory with 68 parliamentary seats and the opposition CNRP of Sam Rainsy received the remaining 55 seats.

The CNRP rejected the results, claiming that its party should win 63 seats, with the CPP getting 60 seats if alleged irregularities during the poll were fairly investigated.

It accused the NEC of being loyal to the CPP and pressed for the formation of an independent poll probe committee that excluded the NEC, but the CPP ruled it out, saying that it was against the kingdom's constitution.

King Norodom Sihamoni on Saturday urged the two political foes to find a peaceful solution to their post-election dispute for the nation's interest and stability.   "With the aim to maintain the country's peace and stability, I beg the leaders of the two parties to cooperate with each other in the spirit of mutual understanding in order to resolve political differences through peaceful talks,"the king said during a meeting with the two leaders.

He also called on all elected lawmakers to attend the opening session of the National Assembly, which he will officiate at on Sept. 23.

CNRP's spokesman Yim Sovann said Saturday that the party had not yet made any decision on whether it would attend the first parliamentary session at the king's invitation.

Hun Sen has said that his party has enough lawmakers to override any opposition parliamentary boycott and form a new government.