Cambodia's election committee says 20 political parties to contest in July national poll

PHNOM PENH, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's National Election Committee (NEC) had officially recognized all of the 20 political parties that registered to contest the July national election, according to local media's report on Thursday.

"In total, 20 political parties have been officially recognized by the NEC," said a NEC's statement.

Among the recognized parties are the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the royalist Funcinpec Party of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, and the Grassroots Democracy Party.

The Southeast Asian nation is scheduled to hold a national election for the 125-seat parliament on July 29 and approximately 8.3 million Cambodians are eligible to cast their ballots.

Speaking during a get-together with thousands of garment factory workers in southwestern Kampong Speu province on Wednesday, Hun Sen renewed his call for the people to vote in the forthcoming election, saying it would be the only chance for them to elect their leaders once in every five years.

According to the NEC, the three-week electoral campaign will start from July 7 to 27. Enditem