Cambodian PM reiterates "no re-election" as demanded by opposition

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen reiterated Tuesday that there would be no reelection as demanded by the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party ( CNRP).

"Don't hope for a re-vote before 2018," he said during a visit to disabled people living in Southwestern Kampot province. "You join the National Assembly or not, it's up to you. I will continue to lead the government until the next general election in July 2018."

Meanwhile, the prime minister said that if the CNRP joined the parliament, he would approve the opposition's requests for a TV station and defining the National Election Committee in the Constitution.

He warned that if the opposition wanted to stage a coup, the government would spend only 48 hours to smash them.

"What I'm telling is true," he said. "Don't try to do it in Cambodia after you have seen it happened in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Thailand."

Hun Sen also warned foreigners not to interfere in Cambodia's internal affairs.

Political dispute between the prime minister's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the CNRP has simmered since July last year when the results of a general election showed that the CPP won 68 parliamentary seats against 55 seats for the CNRP.

The CNRP has refused to accept the election outcome it says was marred by fraud, and it has boycotted parliament to demand an early election.