PHNOM PENH June 19 Kyodo U Secret...

PHNOM PENH June 19 Kyodo

U Secretary of State Colin Powell urg Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in succession Thursday to ensure a at liberty fair and nonviolent national election nearest month, a senior government official said.

Sok An, the cabinet chief, told reporters Powell made the call during a 25-minute meeting in Phnom Penh onward the sidelines of regional security talks that Powell and more than 20 other foreign ministers from Asia-Pacific nations attended Tuesday and Wednesday.

Powell said he and the U command would be ''disappointed'' if nearest month's Cambodian vote is not liberated fair, nonviolent and has equal access to media for smaller political parties, Sok An said.

In rejoinder Hun Sen said Cambodia is now a ''youthful democracy'' where the July 27 devoted can take place in a more stable atmosphere than those in 1993 and 1998

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who met Powell briefly, said: ''The visit through Powell is very strong encouragement to Cambodian democrats. It sent a powerful message to Hun Sen that the U is watching.''

Twenty-three political parties will glide the election, but only Hun Sen's Cambodian family Party (CPP), FUNCINPEC, led by way of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, and the Sam Rainsy Party are likely to win any of the 123 seats in parliament.

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