Cambodian Election Ends Without Report of Political Violence

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, July 28, 2003

Cambodian Election Ends Without Report of Political Violence

Cambodia's election ended smoothly on Sunday without report of political violence.

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Cambodia's election ended smoothly on Sunday without report of political violence.

The Cambodian National Election Committee (NEC) spokesman Leng Sochea told Xinhua that the election was conducted "in a peaceful and smooth way," and people cast their ballots with great enthusiasm, especially in capital Phnom Penh.

Polls opened at 7:00 a.m. local time in 12,826 polling stationsin 24 constituencies and closed at 3:00 p.m. local time.

More than 6.3 million eligible voters began voting early Sunday to elect a new National Assembly in nationwide election, which will appoint a new government for the next five years.

In the capital, people were waiting in long queues outside polling stations long before the polling began.

Hun Sen, incumbent prime minister and vice-president of Cambodian People's Party (CPP), cast his ballot in Takhmau, capital of Kandal province, while Prince Norodom Ranariddh of the royalist FUNCINPEC party and opposition party leader Sam Rainsy ofself-named Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) voted in Phnom Penh, the most contested constituency.

The CPP, FUNCINPEC party and SRP are the major contenders amongthe 23 political parties contesting for the 123-seats National Assembly. A new government will be formed according to the seats obtained by the parties in the election.

Under the Cambodia's Constitution, a single political party canonly govern if it wins the elections with more than a two-thirds majority. Most analysts believed Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party remains hotly favored to win the poll.

The National Election Committee (NEC) predicts that voter turnout were higher than previous elections.

Vote-counting will begin on Monday and initial results of the poll are expected to be released on August 8. The final outcome will not be released before August 14.

It is the third National Assembly elections held in Cambodia, the last two were in 1993 and 1998.

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