Cambodian King Father Sihanouk's body to be cremated on Feb. 4 next year: PM (2)

"It is impolite that the King Father's body lies in state at the Royal Palace, and millions of people come to enjoy the Water Festival," he said.

Sihanouk died of illness at the age of 90 in Beijing on Oct. 15 and his body was returned to Phnom Penh by Air China jumbo jet on Oct. 17.

After a week of mourning, his body has been exhibited for more than 3 months at the Royal Palace for the public to see and honor it before it is cremated.

Sihanouk ruled the country from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his voluntary abdication on Oct. 7, 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni.

He was the king who led the country to gain independence from France in 1953 and was named the father of independence, territorial integrity, and national reconciliation and unity.

He suffered from various forms of cancer, diabetes and hypertension and had been treated by Chinese doctors in Beijing for years before his death.

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