Cambodia teetered on the brink of renewed crisis yesterday as opposition leaders said their likely election defeat was caused by fraud. They declared they would boycott the new parliament and organise protests.
The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of the government leader, Mr Hun Sen, said it was heading for a convincing win after Sunday's vote and called the opposition allegations "ridiculous".
Under the constitution, a new government has to be endorsed by two-thirds of the 122-seat National Assembly. Projections by the CPP indicate it would fall short of this margin if there is an opposition boycott.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh, overthrown by his junior co-prime minister, Mr Hun Sen, in a bloody coup last July, and his opposition ally, Mr Sam Rainsy, said they were demanding that voting be held again in areas where they allege the CPP cheated.
"We are going to protest in all legal and peaceful ways against this unfair election," Sam Mr Rainsy said.
Election organisers have released partial results showing the CPP ahead in eight provinces, FUNCINPEC leading in two and in Phnom Penh, and the Sam Rainsy party third everywhere. Full preliminary results are due on Saturday.
A senior CPP official said his party expected to win 65 to 67 seats, against 42 to 45 for FUNCINPEC and 13 seats for the Sam Rainsy Party.
The UN co-ordinated Joint International Observer Group (JIOG), the main foreign observer group for the election, said early yesterday it believed Sunday's vote and the count had been sufficiently free and fair to reflect the will of the people.
The JIOG groups almost 500 international observers from more than 20 countries and world regional groups, including the European Union.
But analysts criticised the JIOG for putting its stamp of approval on the process before it was finished.