Cambodian ruling party claims "absolute majority seats" in polls

The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen has claimed victory in Sunday's general elections.

"According to the preliminary results, the Cambodian People's Party won an absolute majority seats in the polls so that the party has enough seats to prepare the government for the fifth legislature of the National Assembly," the party said in a statement on Sunday night.

"The CPP would like to express gratitude to all compatriots for voting for the party to lead the country for another five years," it said.

The statement also appealed to people to keep calm and maintain stability, security, and order.

The preliminary results showed that the CPP gained 68 seats and the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) got the remaining 55 seats in the elections, Khieu Kanharith, spokesman for the government and the CPP, told Xinhua on Sunday evening.

The official results from the National Election Committee are still unavailable.

CNRP leader Sam Rainsy on Sunday night urged people to keep calm and wait for the official results.

"I'd like to urge compatriots to avoid any violence and activities that can lead to social unrest," he said in a statement.

Despite the victory, the CPP saw a remarkable decline in the number of seats from the last elections in 2008, in which the party won 90 seats out of the 123 seats in the National Assembly.

Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years, will take office for another five-year term following Sunday's victory.

According to the constitution, the first session of the new National Assembly will be convened no later than 60 days after the elections.