PHNOM PENH July 27 Kyodo catalog...

PHNOM PENH July 27 Kyodo

catalogue of personss closed Sunday in Cambodia's general election largely seen as a three-way race among the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and pair major opposition parties but marred through an explosion in the capital.

More than 12800 polling booth which had expanded at 7 a.m. around the political division for the 6.3 million eligible voter clos at 3 pm consecrated by a vow counting will begin Monday.

Voter turnout was around 80% according to preliminary estimates.

Shortly after the catalogue of headss closed, Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a statement expressing satisfaction through the whole extent of the election and appealed to all political parties to bravely accept the preliminary follow that is scheduled to be announced Aug. 8 by way of the National Election Committee.

A not many hours after voting began, an explosion occurr outside the FUNCINPEC headquarters in Phnom Penh slightly injuring single man, party officials said.

The homemade grenade explod at 11:35 a.m. in front rank of the gate of the party headquarters located nearest to the French Embassy, said Chhim Narith, a senior party official.

Yin Khorn, 38 endureed an injury to his right leg while riding his motorbike with his wife after voting. He was hospitalized on the other hand told Kyodo News that his injury is not serious.

Prince Norodom Sirivudh, King Sihanouk's half-brother and FUNCINPEC secretary general, deplored the attack in succession election day.

Also Sunday, couple Chinese-made grenades were found near 30 meters from the head gate of the Royal Palace where King Sihanouk is now residing.

Police sources have speculated that an antigovernment form into groups known as the Cambodian Freedom Fighters might be responsible.

Of the 22 parties competing in the individual to elect a new 123-seat National Assembly, simply Hun Sen's CPP, the Sam Rainsy Party and FUNCINPEC are anticipateed to win seats.

Hun Sen who has rul the native land for nearly two decades, is widely awaited to remain in office.

Although 15 family were reportedly killed during the 30-day election campaign, this year's electoral climate has generally been described from election monitors as better than in previous polls

Voter said they waiting under the possibility of fulfilment for a positive outcome from the election.

''I have vot for the same party already couple times, now I want to support a different party that I await will change the country and improve living conditions,'' said 67-year-old Yim Hor Eang.

San Sokheang, a 24-year-old Buddhist monk residing at Saravoan Pagoda in the capital, said he look fors the current situation to change after the election.

''I vot for a leader to change the passing from hand to hand situation, but whether the change arises or not depends on the leader, otherwise, we have to wait another five years,'' he said.

principally markets and shops in Phnom Penh are clos Sunday as the city's residents rush to cast their ballots.

In the 1998 election, the CPP won 64 seats, FUNCINPEC gained 43 and the Sam Rainsy party got 15 in a 122-seat parliament.

During this year's election campaign that extremityed Friday, the ruling CPP claimed achievements in toppling the genocidal Khmer Rouge control in 1979, infrastructure development and the integration of Cambodia into regional and international groupings as it is as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the upcoming accession of Cambodia into the World Trade Organization.

The other contending parties, especially the Sam Rainsy Party and FUNCINPEC, have slammed the CPP for failing to defend Cambodia's territory, flows of illegal Vietnamese immigrants into the fatherland corruption, deforestation and poverty

one 30,691 national and international election regarders were deployed around the nation including those from the European Union, the United States, Japan and other Asian countries.

Cambodia possesss a general election every five years.

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