Strongman Hun Sen yesterday appealed to rivals to form a government of 'national unity' - but one in which he controlled all key posts.
Mr Hun Sen emerged from talks with King Norodom Sihanouk at the royal palace in Siem Reap to offer the thorniest of olive branches as Sunday's elections degenerated into confusion.
King Sihanouk resisted calls to return to Phnom Penh for the election. Yesterday's meeting was his first apparent direct involvement after telling Cambodians to vote only with their consciences.
Key opposition figures Sam Rainsy and the king's son, Prince Norodom Ranariddh of the Funcinpec party, have threatened to boycott results claiming widespread manipulation and intimidation by Mr Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP).
'Of course we want to make a coalition between the CPP and Funcinpec and we can kick Sam Rainsy out because on their own CPP and Funcinpec have 107 seats so we don't need the Sam Rainsy Party,' Mr Hun Sen said.
'But for the sake of the nation we appeal to have a coalition between the CPP, Funcinpec and Sam Rainsy so we can co-operate with each other in the National Assembly and the Government.' However, Mr Hun Sen said the CPP would insist on retaining the defence, finance, interior, justice and foreign affairs ministries - posts which would give him full government control.
Prince Ranariddh rejected the proposal and said any talk of a coalition was premature.