Opposition chiefs leave Cambodia after arrests<\/p>\n
PHNOM PENH (Agencies): Cambodian opposition leaders Prince
\nNorodom Ranariddh and Sam Rainsy abruptly left the country on
\nFriday after the arrest of eight people in connection with a
\nfatal explosion the previous day ahead of the opening of
\nParliament.<\/p>\n
Another opposition leader, Kem Sokha, was in hiding on Friday,
\nclaiming police had surrounded his house in Phnom Penh.<\/p>\n
A nervous-looking Ranariddh and Rainsy boarded a morning
\ncharter flight in Siem Reap, northern Cambodia, bound for
\nBangkok, witnesses said.<\/p>\n
Yim Sovann, a senior member of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), was
\nalso on the flight.<\/p>\n
There was a brief delay at the airport's security desk as
\ncustoms officials made phone calls to verify whether the
\nopposition leaders could leave, witnesses said.<\/p>\n
Spokesmen for the parties of Ranariddh and Rainsy admitted the
\npair were worried over accusations from police linking Thursday's
\ndramatic attack to their ranks, although they asserted their
\nflight to Bangkok was pre-arranged.<\/p>\n
\"Sure, we are definitely worried. It seems like they are
\nclaiming this thing was an assassination attempt on Hun Sen: a
\nfree-standing accusation that could be used against anyone,\" a
\nSam Rainsy spokesman told AFP.<\/p>\n
\"We are concerned about this incident,\" said Kong Vibol,
\nspokesman for the prince's FUNCINPEC party, referring to the
\nalleged assassination bid.<\/p>\n
The Cambodian government on Friday morning announced the
\narrest of eight people in Siem Reap, where the explosion
\noccurred.<\/p>\n
A 10-year-old boy was killed and three family members wounded
\nas a rocket-propelled grenade exploded on a road as convoys of
\nnew parliament members were traveling to a swearing-in ceremony.<\/p>\n
\"The police are investigating the case. All possibilities are
\nopen,\" government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said. \"Up until now,
\nthe government does not blame any political parties.\"<\/p>\n
He said the eight suspects in Siem Reap belong to political
\nparties, but would not say whether they belonged to Ranariddh's
\nFUNCINPEC party or the SRP.<\/p>\n
He also said police were searching for another suspect,
\nbelieved to be the ringleader, who was allegedly spotted in the
\narea 10 minutes before the explosion and then fled.<\/p>\n
The B-40 grenade exploded at 9:15 a.m. less than 700 metres
\nfrom the residence of Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, who was
\npreparing to host a meeting of parliament leaders.<\/p>\n
The rocket, one of five hidden under bushes along a motorcade
\nroute being used by political leaders, was apparently detonated
\nby remote control using a wire, military police said.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said Hun Sen's vehicle had already arrived at
\nSihanouk's residence when the explosion occurred after
\nRanariddh's motorcade had passed and just as Rainsy's motorcade
\nwas approaching the area.<\/p>\n
However, government officials and members of Hun Sen's ruling
\nCambodian People's Party vehemently insist the rocket exploded
\nnear Hun Sen's motorcade in a failed assassination attempt.<\/p>",
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