The country faces constitutional chaos and new unrest after the two key opposition leaders yesterday rejected early tallies of votes in Sunday's election.
'There will be demonstrations and upheaval,' the outspoken liberal Sam Rainsy said after announcing a boycott of results with his rival, Prince Norodom Ranariddh.
'The National Assembly cannot meet now - there will be a constitutional crisis . . . we are not going to be the democratic alibi for Hun Sen.' A senior assistant to Prime Minister Hun Sen, said his boss 'just laughed' when told.
Long before the official vote count, the two leaders claimed the process was riddled with fraud and other irregularities, which they blamed on Mr Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and poll officials.
Sam Rainsy Party officials claimed they knew of 70 such irregularities, but could not give details. They demanded new elections in areas affected - but diplomats said this was unlikely and unworkable.
Both parties were believed to be polling strongly in early tallies on Monday, but unofficial counts yesterday morning put the CPP well in front.
