King Father Norodom Sihanouk passed away
King Father Norodom Sihanouk passed away today in Beijing at the age of 89, 59 years after he declared Cambodia’s independence from France. Sihanouk was a greatly charismatic leader revered as something of a God King during the height of his power in the 1950s and 60s. He served both as King and then Prime Minister after taking the daring step of abdicating from the throne to enter politics. … In recent years the retired King repeatedly traveled to Beijing to receive medical treatment for a number of ailments including diabetes and cancer. In a hospital there, he finally succumbed to a heart attack on today at 1.20 am, Phnom Penh time, Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan confirmed.
