Cambodia's ruling, opposition senior leaders hold talks after dispute

Senior leaders of Cambodia's ruling and opposition parties held talks here on Thursday after recent dispute that led to an attack on two opposition lawmakers, ouster of deputy opposition leader and issuance of an arrest warrant for the opposition leader.

The meeting was held between Sar Kheng, vice president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), and Kem Sokha, acting president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

"We had signed a joint statement related to the enhancement of cooperation between the two parties in order to settle issues for the nation,"Sar Kheng told reporters after the meeting.

Kem Sokha said the joint statement would be a foundation for the two parties to enhance cooperation for the sake of the nation.

According to the four-point joint statement, the two parties pledged"to continue to solve the remaining issues based on the spirit of national unification and reconciliation in accordance with the principles of multi-party liberal democracy and rule of law." The talks came after an assault on two CNRP lawmakers on Oct. 26 by a group of people, removal of Kem Sokha as the parliament's first vice president on Oct. 30 by CPP lawmakers and the issuance of arrest warrant for CNRP President Sam Rainsy last month over an old defamation conviction.

Sam Rainsy is currently living in self-imposed exile to avoid a two-year prison sentence over defamation and instigation for discrimination. Endit