Cambodia's king announces abdication
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-10-07 17:06

Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk has abdicated, citing poor health, and asked the country to begin searching for his successor, the head of the National Assembly said Thursday.

Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk (L) and Queen Norodom Monineth attend a reception in Beijing September 30, 2004. Sihanouk, now 81, abdicated on Thursday, his son said. The picture was taken on September 30, 2004. [Reuters]

Sihanouk, 81, announced his retirement in a letter which his son, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, read to the legislature Thursday.

"According to the statement that I have received and just read, His Majesty has already abdicated," Ranariddh told reporters, adding that the news was "very regrettable and shocking for all Cambodians who love him and regard him as sacred."

Ranariddh said leaders of the ruling coalition planned "to beg" the king to stay on as monarch. He said he had been granted permission to visit his father and would leave for Beijing Friday to hear "the reason behind His Majesty's decision."

Earlier, Ranariddh said Prime Minister Hun Sen and acting head of state and ruling party leader Chea Sim would also seek permission to visit the king, but it was unclear whether they would join him Friday.

Hun Sen is in Viet Nam to attend a summit of Asian and European leaders.

The king cancelled his planned return to Cambodia, scheduled for Thursday, Ranariddh said, adding that Sihanouk's abdication left Cambodia like "a family where children have no father, a house without a roof."

Ranariddh said the king's decision was prompted by a letter he received from opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who complained that his party was being unfairly blamed for protests scheduled to coincide with the monarch's return to Cambodia.

But Sam Rainsy said his letter was not to blame.

The king in Cambodia is not a hereditary title, but all candidates must have a royal bloodline. Ranariddh could be a candidate, but has already said he is not interested.

Sihanouk has been an influential figure in Cambodian politics for more than half a century, leading the country to independence from French colonialism in the 1950s.

He left Cambodia in January after trying and failing to end the months of political feuding.

The letter from the king asked the country to form a nine-member throne council -- as set in Cambodian law -- to choose the next monarch. Hun Sen and other political leaders would be included in the council.

A similar statement also appeared on Sihanouk's website, where he often posts handwritten messages in French about current affairs. With that statement was a September 4 letter jointly signed by Hun Sen and Ranariddh, who are partners in the current government, proposing another prince, Norodom Sihamoni, as the future king.

The king asked that he be allowed to step down because of his fragile health, saying doctors have detected a "new and serious ailment" in his stomach. The letter did not elaborate.

"I ask all compatriots to please allow me to retire," he said.

Chea Sim will remain the acting head of state until a new monarch is selected.

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