PHNOM PENH Jan. 30 Kyodo Cambodia...

PHNOM PENH Jan. 30 Kyodo

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen upon Friday filed a $5 million defamation suit against opposition leader Sam Rainsy.

In a verbal expression addressed to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, Hun Sen accused Sam Rainsy, head of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) of making defamatory make notess about him to reporters forward Tuesday.

Hun Sen urg the court to punish Sam Rainsy and demanded $5 million in compensation. Hun Sen sought the compensation in U dollars.

onward Monday, Sam Rainsy issued a statement saying five political and civil society leaders are allegedly upon a ''black list'' of Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party.

Sam Rainsy repeated the same claims Tuesday to reporters.

The SRP leader told Kyodo recents on Friday that he was not belong toed about the lawsuit, saying he has already filed several lawsuits against Hun Sen since 1997

As for the safety of the five political and civil society leaders, Hun Sen quipped that he would provide each of them with a military tank.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Kyodo of the present days International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group