Cambodia Crisis Talks End with No Agreement

Cambodia's strongman Premier Hun Sen met his main political rival Saturday in an effort to break the country's political deadlock following a disputed election, but the two sides apparently failed to reach a breakthrough.

The talks, hosted by King Norodom Sihamoni, had raised hopes of an end to the political stalemate that has gripped the kingdom since July polls that handed victory to Hun Sen amid allegations of electoral fraud.

But Hun Sen and the opposition chief Sam Rainsy left the meeting at the royal palace in Phnom Penh after only about 30 minutes with no sign of an agreement.

"There is nothing," Rainsy told reporters when asked about the outcome of the talks.

According to official results, Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won 68 seats in the July polls against 55 for the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

The opposition has rejected the result, alleging widespread vote rigging, but so far its efforts to challenge the outcome have failed and it has few options left in its bid to overturn Hun Sen's victory.

The CNRP has threatened more mass protests and a boycott of parliament, raising fears of prolonged political paralysis.

The discovery of several explosive devices in the capital Phnom Penh on Friday added to tensions ahead of a series of planned mass rallies starting from Sunday.

Hun Sen, 61, a former Khmer Rouge cadre who defected and oversaw Cambodia's rise from the ashes of war, has vowed to rule until he is 74.

His government is regularly accused of ignoring human rights and suppressing political dissent.