Associated Press
 
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia –  The two rival parties claiming victory in Cambodia's general election have reached an agreement with the state National Election Committee to investigate polling irregularities.
NEC Secretary-General Tep Nytha announced the agreement to form an independent investigative body after meeting Saturday with senior members of the ruling Cambodian People's Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party.
The ruling party contends that provisional results show it won 68 parliamentary seats to the opposition's 55 in the July 28 election, while the opposition claims there was widespread cheating and that it won a 63-seat majority.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, in power for 28 years, has made clear that he believes the final results, due in mid-August, will favor him and that he will have another five-year term in office.