- Published: 20/10/2012 at 03:36 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and other
Asian leaders travelled to Cambodia yesterday to pay their respects to
the country's late former monarch Norodom Sihanouk, who navigated the
kingdom through six turbulent decades.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra pays respects to the coffin of
Cambodia’s former king Norodom Sihanouk which is lying in state at the
royal palace in Phnom Penh.
The premiers of Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos each spent about 15
minutes at the palace where the revered former king is lying in state
after his body was brought home on Wednesday to a sea of hundreds of
thousands of mourners.
They were the first foreign leaders to pay their condolences at the
palace. During her visit, Ms Yingluck signed a book of condolences. "On
behalf of the Thai government and the Thai people I, as the prime
minister, wish to express my deep regret for the death of Samdech Preah
Norodom Sihanouk, the former king of Cambodia, who dedicated himself to
the peace of the country and the well-being of the Cambodian people,"
she wrote.
"For this reason, he will be in the memory of the Cambodian people forever."
The charismatic royal, known as the "King-Father", died of a heart attack in Beijing on Monday. He was 89.
Sihanouk's wife Queen Monique, his son King Norodom Sihamoni, and
Prime Minister Hun Sen met dignitaries at the Throne Hall where the
coffin is being kept, said Sihanouk's long-time aide Prince Sisowath
Thomico.
Cambodian and Chinese experts have already begun preparations to
embalm the body before it goes on public view. For now the casket will
remain closed.
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