The selection of Ung Huot as Cambodia's first prime minister is not acceptable, according to Son Soubert, Cambodia's second vice president of the National Assembly and a close ally of ousted First Prime Minister Norodom Ranariddh.
Soubert, who has been out of the country since early July when the political turmoil erupted, was speaking August 6 during a meeting in Tokyo with Vice Foreign Minister Shunji Yanai, the officials said. Foreign Ministry officials, however, declined to reveal details of Soubert's comments during the talks.
Soubert said the ousting of Ranariddh was a military coup d'etat, adding that he doubts a general election will be held next May as scheduled, the officials said. Yanai told Soubert that Tokyo is concerned about the situation in Cambodia and is watching developments in the country closely, they said. He also said that holding a fair and free general election and protecting human rights are crucial, they added.