Cambodian voters rally to challenge Hun Sen's disputed election victory
Opposition party makes last bid for probe into disputed election result
Thousands of Cambodians, many holding lotus flowers symbolising peace, joined a mass protest in the capital Phnom Penh yesterday in a last-ditch bid to challenge Prime Minister Hun Sen's disputed election win.
About 20,000 demonstrators, some carrying placards and ribbons with "my vote, my life" written in Khmer, gathered in Democracy Park to demand a probe into allegations that voter fraud denied the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) victory in July's election.
The protest, which was one of the largest opposition demonstrations in recent years, comes as final results due today are expected to end the CNRP's legal options to overturn the result.
The CNRP has alleged widespread rigging in the election in which Hun Sen's long-ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) claimed victory.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy again rejected the poll result yesterday, vowing further peaceful demonstrations unless an independent probe into alleged voter fraud was called.
Opening his address with a prayer, Rainsy told the rally it was a "historic day" and called for "justice for the voters".