Hun Sen to visit Japan for checkup, talks>
Cambodian Second Prime Minister Hun Sen will visit Japan between Nov. 5 and 10, Foreign Ministry officials said.
The main purpose of Hun Sen's visit is to undergo a medical checkup, the officials said, but a meeting with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto is widely expected because Hun Sen has been seeking Tokyo's recognition of his controversial government. Meetings between Hun Sen and government leaders are now being arranged, the officials said.
Ousted former First Prime Minister Norodom Ranariddh is also hoping to visit Japan. Japanese leaders are expected to ask Hun Sen to hold a free and fair election in May and to allow Ranariddh, who is now in exile, to participate. Hun Sen's government is threatening to put Ranariddh on trial on firearms smuggling charges if he returns to Cambodia.