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Cambodia's long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen and long-time opposition leader Sam Rainsy began talks Monday in a last-ditch effort to break through political impasse.
It was the second time that the two political rivals have held talks within the last three days. On Saturday, the two leaders met at the Royal Palace under the auspices of King Norodom Sihamoni, but made no agreement over the political stalemate.
The country held a general election on July 28. The final results showed that the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Hun Sen got victory with 68 parliamentary seats and the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) of Sam Rainsy received the remaining 55 seats.
The CNRP did not recognize the outcomes, claiming that its party should win 63 seats, with the CPP getting 60 seats if alleged irregularities during the poll are fairly investigated.
CPP's senior lawmaker Cheam Yeap said Saturday that the meeting between the two leaders would focus on the current political impasse and the allocation of the parliamentary leadership positions.
He said that there would be no talks about the formation of the independent poll investigation committee since the final election results had already been released.
CNRP's spokesman Yim Sovann said Sunday during a mass demonstration that during Monday's talks, his party would demand reforms to the National Election Committee, a new national voter registry and its own television station.
Two clashes between police and protestors broke out Sunday during a mass protest led by Sam Rainsy at the Freedom Park in the city. In the clashes, the police had fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protestors.
One protestor died in one accident and one police officer got injured on his head in another.
Sam Rainsy told about 20,000 supporters at the Freedom Park that the party would boycott the opening session of the parliament slated for Sept. 23 if there is no fair solution to the alleged irregularities during the July 28 election.
Hun Sen has said that his party has enough lawmakers to override any opposition parliamentary boycott and form a new government.
Hun Sen, 61, who has been in power for 28 years, will rule the country for another five years through the election victory.
