Club-wielding protesters ag­ainst Prince Norodom Ranariddh clashed with Funcinpec loyalists at the foot of Wat Phnom early Wed­­nesday evening—culminating a day of political protests in the capital.

siem reap – The second RCAF helicopter in more than five years to try to land at the former Khmer Rouge outpost at Preah Vihear temple was critically da­maged Wednesday after an erratic landing in a minefield, seriously injuring three people, RCAF officials and passengers said.

siem reap – Senior military officials here said Wednesday that a “large-scale” attack on guerrillas hunkered down in the heavily forested Dangrek Mountains about 100 km northeast of here is planned for launch in one week.

Children living in a group of villages in Kampot will no longer face the deadly threat of malaria thanks to a program by the Ger­man agency GTZ.

Deposed first prime minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh called Wednesday for opposing political forces to compromise in order to achieve peace in Cam­bodia, saying violence and confrontation would not resolve the country’s political crisis.

A water main leading from the treatment plant in Tuol Kok burst early Wednesday, cutting off supplies to residents in four districts of the capital, an official said.

An elite police force was back at work Wednesday with new uniforms and doubled salaries, helping to control street clashes in Phnom Penh.

Khmer Citizen’s Party Pres­ident Nguon Soeur has asked King Norodom Sihanouk to consider pardoning two princes and four prominent generals, but the King responded that he doesn’t dare without a request first by Second Prime Minister Hun Sen.

o bai tap, Oddar Meanchey province – An RCAF helicopter landed at Anlong Veng village for the first time in four years Tues­day afternoon.

Amid thousands of cheering supporters, deposed first prime minister Prince Norodom Ran­a­riddh led a rousing rally at his restored party headquarters, vowing to lead his party to victory in the forthcoming elections.

Long-standing plans to set up industrial and free-trade zones in Cambodia have failed to take off because of a lack of land title laws, according to Industry Min­ister Pou Sothirak.

Chausen Cocsal Chhum, president of the National Assembly from 1959 to 1968, called Friday for the critical Constitutional Council to be formed immediately.

BLDP-Son Sann parliamentarian Kem Sokha said Tuesday that if votes are counted at the commune and village level, elections scheduled for July will not be free and fair.

While the return of deposed first prime minister Prince Nor­o­dom Ranariddh to Cambo­dia was the top story in the world media much of Monday, the end of his self-exile didn’t register a blip on the local airwaves.

About 2,000 Cambodians have responded to First Prime Min­ister Ung Huot’s “People’s Opin­ion Poll” and the verdict is: eliminate corruption, raise sal­aries, improve living conditions, end deforestation.

In efforts to stop tree-cutting in the historic Angkor Wat area, government officials said they will fine 33 villagers and investigate provincial authorities.

Although there is little hope that Malaysia’s Ariston or YTL corporations will continue proposed development projects in Cambodia, the government has not yet decided to cancel the contracts, Industry Minister Pou Sothirak said Monday.

Phnom Penh Municipality has agreed to lease two run-down public gardens for use as gas stations in exchange for $1,000 a month in tax revenue, Chea So­phara, the first deputy governor of Phnom Penh, said Sunday.

Interior co-Minister Sar Kheng warned Monday of political splits in Cambodia’s army and police departments and said the divisions could “sink the nation.”

Nearly nine months after he left his homeland, deposed first prime minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh returned to Cambodia on Monday to be greeted by hordes of well-wishers and a heavy police presence.