CAMBODIA: FEUD BETWEEN 2 PRIME MINISTERS ERUPTS INTO GUNBATTLE UPDATE

(18 Jun 1997) Khmer/Natsound
The two ruling partners in Cambodia's fragile coalition government were blaming each other on Wednesday for a bloody fire fight in the centre of Phnom Penh which left two dead.
Thousands of soldiers, police and militia units of the rival factions are posted around the city, fuelling fears of a civil war.
Soldiers from both First Prime Minster Norodom Ranariddah's FUNCINPEC party and the Cambodian People's Party (C-P-P) of Second Prime Minister Hun Sen on the streets of Phnom Penh.
The two-hour gunfight erupted late on Tuesday between Ranariddh's bodyguards and police loyal to Hun Sen.
About 100 police surrounded the prince's heavily guarded compound at night and the ensuing battle killed at least two of his men.
Several other people were injured including an American journalist and a passing bus driver.
Both side accused each other of attempting a political assassination.
Serey Kosal, who is Ranariddh's special envoy, told reporters he had a tape recording implicating Hok Lundy in an assassination attempt against the first prime minister.
SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"I monitor on the radio when they (C.P.P. leaders) talk to their men and give them their orders. I heard on the radio that one of Hok Lundy's men and Hok Lundy himself were involved in the killing."
SUPER CAPTION: Serey Kosal, Prince Ranariddh's special envoy
Less than two blocks away, Hok Lundy himself was blaming FUNCINPEC for the violence.
SOUNDBITE: (Khmer)
"I'm the chief of police so I always hear about spy information. FUNCINPEC, led by Ranariddh has always planned to kill the leaders of the C.P.P.. They intend to kill the three leaders of the C.P.P."
SUPER CAPTION: Hok Lundy, Director of National Police
Threats and violence have increased recently in the run-up to
elections scheduled for late next year.
The two prime ministers each raised their bodyguard details above 1,000 men in recent weeks.
Cambodia is already suffering from the political instability caused by the breakup of the Khmer Rouge.
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[@anhnamky6697]

CAMBODIA thank you the /UNTAC / so much

[@paeronm7457]

😢😢😢

[@invinoveritas6859]

តើអ្នកណាជាអ្នកសម្លាប់ឪពុក ឌី វិជ្ជា? ហ៊ឺម !!!!

[@huangsing]

អស់ប្រយោជន៍គេលែងទុកហើយ

[@invinoveritas6859]

@@huangsing
គណបក្ស​ប្រជាជន​មិន​អាច​ជឿ​ឬទុក​ចិត្ត​គ្នា​ទៅ​វិញ​ទៅ​មក......

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វតវ៉ារបប!

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他说

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[@roumviengphumroka7253]

កាលពីរ.ទព័នៅឆ្នាំ១៩៨៩.តស៊ូ..សៅ.សែម.កងពល១៩៧.។

[@johnjemeni1212]

Karma to Hok Lundy when his helicopter crashed most probably sabotage by Hun Sen's men cos Lundy getting too powerful and more horrible than Hun sen himself 🙊🙊🙊

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😢😢😢