CAMBODIAN: DEATH OF TOP AIDE TO PRINCE RANARIDDH IS CONFIRMED

(14 Jul 1997) Natural Sound

Cambodia's coup leader Hun Sen confirmed on Monday the death of a top aide to his rival, Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

It was the first official confirmation of Chao Sambath's death, but Hun Sen did not say where or when the intelligence officer died.

Dozens of members of Ranariddh's Funcinpec party and his supporters have fled Cambodia after Hun Sen's military take-over two weeks ago.

Outside the capital Phnom Penh, Funcinpec troops have been retreating from advancing forces loyal to Hun Sen.

Having secured Cambodia's capital, Hun Sen and his men are now seeking to capture the countryside.

The coup leader and forces aligned with the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) pushed troops loyal to his rival and ousted co-premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh out of Phnom Penh on July 5th.

Now Hun Sen is mobilising troops in the nation's north-west, where Ranariddh's Funcinpec troops are struggling to retain their dominant position.

A group of young CPP soldiers could be seen setting up camp outside Siem Reap city.

This rocket launcher suggested Hun Sen's men were stepping up their advances against Funcinpec troops.

Clashes between the two side continued in Siem Reap province over the weekend.

At least nine C-P-P soldiers were wounded in the fighting on Sunday.

Casualties on Ranariddh's side were believed to be higher.

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