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| Polls open in Cambodian election | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Millions of Cambodians are voting in a general election widely expected to return Prime Minister Hun Sen to office with a firmer grip on power. | |
| His Cambodian People's Party holds 73 assembly seats out of 123, and analysts say his majority is likely to increase. | His Cambodian People's Party holds 73 assembly seats out of 123, and analysts say his majority is likely to increase. |
| The prime minister, who has ruled since 1985, has gained huge approval for taking a tough stance in an ongoing dispute with neighbouring Thailand. | |
| The countries are arguing over land surrounding an ancient monument. | The countries are arguing over land surrounding an ancient monument. |
| Both nations have massed troops near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple - which belongs to Cambodia. | Both nations have massed troops near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple - which belongs to Cambodia. |
| Each claims the land surrounding the temple, and the dispute has raised nationalist fervour in Bangkok and Phnom Penh. | Each claims the land surrounding the temple, and the dispute has raised nationalist fervour in Bangkok and Phnom Penh. |
| "People are more focused on the border issue at Preah Vihear temple than on the election," Hang Puthea, who heads an election-monitoring body, told AFP news agency. | "People are more focused on the border issue at Preah Vihear temple than on the election," Hang Puthea, who heads an election-monitoring body, told AFP news agency. |
| Cambodia is due to hold talks with Thailand on the issue on Monday. | Cambodia is due to hold talks with Thailand on the issue on Monday. |
| No more coalition? | No more coalition? |
| Eleven parties are contesting polls, but most analysts believe the CPP will secure another five-year term in power. | Eleven parties are contesting polls, but most analysts believe the CPP will secure another five-year term in power. |
| Under Hun Sen, Cambodia has achieved high economic growth - helped by revenue from the garment and tourist industries. | Under Hun Sen, Cambodia has achieved high economic growth - helped by revenue from the garment and tourist industries. |
| Cambodian politicians and party activists know the CPP will use violence if necessary Brad AdamsHuman Rights Watch Q&A: Cambodian election | Cambodian politicians and party activists know the CPP will use violence if necessary Brad AdamsHuman Rights Watch Q&A: Cambodian election |
| But the country is also experiencing soaring inflation and there is growing discontent over endemic corruption - both of which could favour opposition leader Sam Rainsy, correspondents say. | |
| The Sam Rainsy Party - which has a strong power base in the capital, but is weaker in rural areas - currently holds 24 seats in the 123-seat parliament. | |
| The CPP, with 73 seats, has been ruling in a coalition with the royalist party, Funcinpec, which holds 26 seats. | |
| But a 2006 constitutional amendment means the CPP requires only a simple majority - rather than a two-thirds majority - to rule in its own right. | But a 2006 constitutional amendment means the CPP requires only a simple majority - rather than a two-thirds majority - to rule in its own right. |
| So all the indications are the CPP will be returned to office, with no need for a coalition partner. | So all the indications are the CPP will be returned to office, with no need for a coalition partner. |
| Poll violence | Poll violence |
| Tens of thousands of Cambodia's eight million registered voters have left the cities to vote in their home villages. | Tens of thousands of Cambodia's eight million registered voters have left the cities to vote in their home villages. |
| A ban on alcohol has been enforced to ensure a peaceful poll - the fourth since decades of civil war ended. | |
| Hun Sen staged a coup in 1997, but has also won several elections | Hun Sen staged a coup in 1997, but has also won several elections |
| Previous elections have been hit by violence. Scores of people - mainly opposition supporters and activists - were killed or beaten in the run-up to elections in 1998. | Previous elections have been hit by violence. Scores of people - mainly opposition supporters and activists - were killed or beaten in the run-up to elections in 1998. |
| Campaigning for Saturday's vote passed off comparatively smoothly, but rights groups have flagged up ruling party control of the media and intimidation of opposition activists as continuing problems. | |
| "Cambodian politicians and party activists know the CPP will use violence if necessary - which means the ruling party doesn't need to do so," said Brad Adams, of US-based Human Rights Watch. | "Cambodian politicians and party activists know the CPP will use violence if necessary - which means the ruling party doesn't need to do so," said Brad Adams, of US-based Human Rights Watch. |
| Both international and domestic monitors will be on hand to monitor voting, which began at 0700 (0000 GMT) and will close eight hours later. |