Fresh protests in Cambodia over disputed election results

Thousands of Cambodia opposition supporters staged a demonstration amid high security on Wednesday over fiercely disputed elections that extended strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen’s near three-decade rule, following bloody protests last month.

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which is boycotting parliament over the controversial July polls, said it would work with authorities to stop any clashes if there was trouble from “elements” looking to provoke unrest.

“It will be completely peaceful... If there is any violence, it would not come from us,” said CNRP leader Sam Rainsy at a press conference, adding that the protest would last for three days.

Thousands of riot police were deployed along the streets and at significant locations in Phnom Penh on Wednesday morning to meet the first major show of strength by the opposition since tens of thousands of its supporters joined three days of rallies in the capital in September.

Those demonstrations left one protester dead and several wounded after security forces clashed with a stone-throwing crowd.

The opposition has demanded an independent investigation into allegations of electoral fraud over the polls, which plunged the country into political turmoil.