Cambodia PM and opposition leader fail to resolve election standoff

Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha held a press conference after the meeting with the CPP leaders Hun Sen, Sar Kheng and Say Chhum.

Meeting arranged by king between Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy fails to produce agreement over disputed poll 

Cambodia PM and Opposition fail to resolve election deadlock

Agence France Presse

PHOTO: A traffic policeman directs a convoy car of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen before his meeting with leader of the opposition at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.(AFP: Tang Chhin Sothy)

MAP: Cambodia

Cambodia's Prime Minister and the outspoken opposition leader have failed to break the deadlock over the country's disputed election after rare face-to-face talks.

Prime Minister Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy had their first meeting since the disputed election in July.

It was mediated by the country's King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.

The prospect of the talks had raised hope of an end to the ongoing political stalemate that saw Hun Senreturn to power amid allegations of electoral fraud by the opposition.

But Hun Sen and the opposition chief Sam Rainsy left the Saturday morning meeting after only about 30 minutes with no sign of an agreement.

"There is nothing," Mr Rainsy said when asked about the outcome of the talks.

According to official final results released last weekend by the National Election Committee, Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) retained its legislative majority, winning 68 seats.

While the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) won 55 seats.

The opposition claims it would have won had the vote been fair and this week, it filed a lawsuit against the NEC.

The CNRP accuses three top NEC officials of faking voter names, using "fake election results" and of abusing the election law.

It has also pledged to stage massive protest rallies starting Sunday, despite the discovery of several explosive devices in the capital on Friday.

AFP