Cambodia to have new govt soon: PM

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sensaid Wednesday that a new government of the third legislative willbe formed soon.

"So far, we have completed 60 points of political platform out of 73," Hun Sen told reporters at the airport after returning froma three-day official visit to neighboring Laos. What he meant is that his Cambodian People's Party and the royalist FUNCINPEC partyhad nearly finished the political platform.

"That is why we will continue our talks on Friday, and the Prince (Norodom Ranariddh) and I will sign an agreement together,"the premier said. He also asked the king to give them a little more time for the negotiating team to continue the work and then bring the result to the king in Pyongyang.

Some FUNCINPEC's members were also at the airport to shake hands with the premier -- seen as a good sign that the new government will be formed soon.

Hun Sen said that the presence of those FUNCINPEC members will help speeding up the talks between him and the prince.

"It also helps securing that the present government can continue the work and be prepared to transfer the work to the new government that will be established soon," Hun Sen added.

Moreover, Hun Sen said he had agreed with the prince to keep FUNCINPEC's Neav Sithong as the Minister of Justice and promoted FUNCINPEC Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Pok Than, to be acting minister of the ministry to replace its late FUNCINPEC minister Tol Lah.

Neav Sithong was removed by Hun Sen last week, saying he did not attend the regular cabinet meeting for a long time.

Cambodia's political deadlock over forming a new government hasbeen going on for nearly ten months since the national election inJuly last year. Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party seeks partnership with FUNCINPEC in forming the government as it failed to secure a majority to rule alone.

Source: Xinhua