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