Cambodia’s ruling, opposition leaders still at odds over poll probe committee

Cambodia’s long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen and long-time opposition leader Sam Rainsy on Monday still disagreed over opposition’s request for an independent committee to look into the contested July 28 election, officials said. “The two leaders remained at odds over this point as the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) still stuck to its demand for a poll probe committee, while the Cambodian People’s Party ( CPP) rejected it,” opposition CNRP’s spokesman Yim Sovann said in a joint press briefing after a five-hour meeting between the two leaders at the National Assembly. He said the CNRP has not decided yet if the party’s lawmakers would attend the opening session of the new parliament on Sept. 23 without an independent poll probe committee. Prak Sokhon, minister attached to Prime Minister Hun Sen, said the CPP could not move backwards since the opposition-requested committee was against the country’s constitution. … On Monday, a few thousands of opposition protesters still rally at the capital’s Freedom Park even though the City Hall did not give them permission. … At the end of the meeting, the two leaders also agreed to create a mechanism to reform the National Election Committee and would continue meetings with officials at various levels to resolve national issues. …

 Xinhuanet News
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-09/16/c_132725471.htm