QUOTE
Thursday, October 7, 2004 at 13:07 JST
PHNOM PENH — Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk has abdicated, leaving Cambodia without a monarch, Prince Norodom Ranariddh told Kyodo News on Thursday.
The prince, one of the king's sons, is president of the National Assembly and leader of the royalist FUNCINPEC party in the coalition government. (Kyodo News)
PHNOM PENH — Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk has abdicated, leaving Cambodia without a monarch, Prince Norodom Ranariddh told Kyodo News on Thursday.
The prince, one of the king's sons, is president of the National Assembly and leader of the royalist FUNCINPEC party in the coalition government. (Kyodo News)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3057503a12,00.html
QUOTE
PHNOM PENH: Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk has abdicated, sick and dismayed at political infighting in his impoverished country as it tries to recover from the "Killing Fields" era, his son says.
"I hope this is not a permanent abdication," Norodom Ranariddh said yesterday of his 83-year-old father, who has threatened abdication many times although the constitution does not allow it.
Sihanouk had been scheduled to return to Phnom Penh yesterday after undergoing medical treatment for several months in Beijing, but had postponed his trip, Ranariddh, president of the National Assembly, told reporters.
"This is a serious situation for Cambodia" and the country's leaders would try to persuade Sihanouk not to quit, he said.
Sihanouk was last seen in public a week ago as guest of honour at a reception in Beijing marking the 55th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Republic. He was escorted into the room by President Hu Jintao.
Sihanouk has threatened repeatedly to quit the job because political wrangling has upset him, particularly when parties took a year to form a government after indecisive elections in 2003.
"I hope this is not a permanent abdication," Norodom Ranariddh said yesterday of his 83-year-old father, who has threatened abdication many times although the constitution does not allow it.
Sihanouk had been scheduled to return to Phnom Penh yesterday after undergoing medical treatment for several months in Beijing, but had postponed his trip, Ranariddh, president of the National Assembly, told reporters.
"This is a serious situation for Cambodia" and the country's leaders would try to persuade Sihanouk not to quit, he said.
Sihanouk was last seen in public a week ago as guest of honour at a reception in Beijing marking the 55th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Republic. He was escorted into the room by President Hu Jintao.
Sihanouk has threatened repeatedly to quit the job because political wrangling has upset him, particularly when parties took a year to form a government after indecisive elections in 2003.
Hmmm..now what..?
