Cambodian FM says he is resigning<\/p>\n
PHNOM PENH (Reuter): Cambodian Foreign Minister Prince Norodom
\nSirivudh, whose reformist political ally Finance Minister Sam
\nRainsy was sacked last week, said yesterday that he is quitting.<\/p>\n
\"I will present my request (to First Prime Minister Prince
\nNorodom Ranariddh) to resign,\" Sirivudh told reporters when he
\narrived from Thailand at Phnom Penh's Pochentong airport.<\/p>\n
He declined further comment, saying only that he would inform
\nthe prime minister of his decision shortly.<\/p>\n
\"Even if he says he will resign he can still be persuaded to
\nstay in his position by Ranariddh,\" a senior foreign diplomat
\ntold Reuters.<\/p>\n
Cambodian lawmakers voted 90-13 in a secret ballot on Thursday
\nto drop Sam Rainsy, a French-educated intellectual who was
\nregarded as one of Cambodia's most able and honest
\nadministrators.<\/p>\n
The ministers for agriculture and commerce also lost their
\njobs in a publicly stated bid to ensure cabinet unity.<\/p>\n
There has been speculation for weeks in the Cambodian capital
\nthat Sirivudh would quit as foreign minister if the two co-
\npremiers Ranariddh and Second Prime Minister Hun Sen dropped the
\nfinance minister.<\/p>\n
Both Sirivudh and Sam Rainsy, who campaigned together for the
\nroyalist FUNCINPEC party in the run-up to the May 1993 UN-
\nsponsored elections, were respected in diplomatic circles for
\nbattling corruption and have often been outspoken on
\ncontroversial issues.<\/p>\n
Sirivudh is the half-brother of head of state King Norodom
\nSihanouk. He has been foreign minister since June 1993 when
\nFUNCINPEC and the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) agreed to share
\npower in a coalition government following the elections.<\/p>",
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