CPP ahead in Cambodia polls

PHNOM PENH, July 29: Unofficial results from Cambodia8217;s weekend election show strongman Hun Sen8217;s De Facto ruling party with a strong lead over its major rivals, observer groups said today.

With more than 56 per cent of the vote counted, the Committee for Free and Fair Elections COMFREL, an independent local poll watchdog, said the Cambodian People8217;s Party CPP was ahead with 40.5 per cent out of the ballots tallied so far. The royalist Funcinpec party of deposed co-premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh was second with 32.8 per cent and the self-named party of dissident Sam Rainsy was third with 14.2 per cent.

In a separate breakdown of partial returns, the Sam Rainsy Party said its information was similar to COMFREL8217;s, showing itself with the same percentage as COMFREL but with CPP at 41 per cent and Funcinpec at 33.4 per cent.

According to COMFREL8217;s independent partial results, the CPP was ahead in most of the country8217;s 23 provinces and independent towns. Funcinpec was leading in Kampong Cham, Kandaland Phnom Penh, while the SRP was strong in Pailin town, a former Khmer Rouge guerrilla stronghold.