Cambodia's king announces abdication

Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk has abdicated, citing poor health, and asked the country to begin searching for his successor, the head of the National Assembly said Thursday.

Sihanouk, 81, announced his retirement in a letter which his son, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, read to the legislature Thursday. "According to the statement that I have received and just read, His Majesty has already abdicated," Ranariddh told reporters, adding that the news was "very regrettable and shocking for all Cambodians who love him and regard him as sacred."

Ranariddh said leaders of the ruling coalition planned "to beg" the king to stay on as monarch. He said he had been granted permission to visit his father and would leave for Beijing Friday to hear "the reason behind His Majesty's decision." Earlier, Ranariddh said Prime Minister Hun Sen and acting head of state and ruling party leader Chea Sim would also seek permission to visit the king, but it was unclear whether they would join him Friday. Hun Sen is in Viet Nam to attend a summit of Asian and European leaders.

The king cancelled his planned return to Cambodia, scheduled for Thursday, Ranariddh said, adding that Sihanouk's abdication left Cambodia like "a family where children have no father, a house without a roof." Ranariddh said the king's decision was prompted by a letter he received from opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who complained that his party was being unfairly blamed for protests scheduled to coincide with the monarch's return to Cambodia.


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