29 Jul 2013

Govt in Cambodia still in power

12:06 pm on 29 July 2013

The governing party in Cambodia claimed victory in an election on Sunday, but is likely to have a much reduced majority.

The Cambodian People's Party led by Prime Minister Hun Sen says it's won at least 68 of the 123 seats in parliament.

Official results have not yet been released, but the BBC says if these numbers are confirmed, it would be the CPP's worst performance in 15 years.

Hun Sen has been in power in Cambodia for nearly three decades.

His main challenge was from the Cambodia National Rescue Party led by Sam Rainsy, who recently came back to the country from self-imposed exile.

The CPP had been widely expected to win the election.

In 2010, Mr Rainsy was sentenced in absentia to 11 years in prison, on a series of charges he said were politically motivated.

Analysts said his return to Cambodia early in July seems to have helped his party's cause.