Sihanouk sweeps Megawati and Arroyo off their feet

Sihanouk sweeps Megawati and Arroyo off their feet

Cambodia's revered monarch King Norodom Sihanouk swept the presidents of Indonesia and the Philippines off their feet as he danced, sang and entertained ASEAN leaders at a palace banquet.

Insiders said Tuesday that Sihanouk, backed by a band, sang up to 12 songs with at least one tune from each country at Monday evening's banquet for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) group which is meeting in Phnom Penh for its annual summit.

Towards the end of the evening the 80-year-old monarch danced with several first ladies and then Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"She was most impressed," a palace insider told AFP, "to the point where Megawati demanded an encore from the monarch."

Sihanouk swiftly obliged and took the hand of Filipino President Gloria Arroyo, who Monday became a grandmother.

"He was most gracious," the insider said. "In most countries the monarch is entertained but in Cambodia the king was amazingly gracious and he entertained his guests until the late hours."

Sihanouk, who suffers from diabetes and colon cancer, celebrated his 80th birthday last week and recently returned from China where he underwent routine medical checks.

"The king looked well, was spontaneous, witty and vibrant, in fact he looked 20 years younger," one senior diplomat said. -- AFP