Japan's ambassador to Cambodia, Masaki Saito, urged Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk on Monday to exercise his power to settle confrontations between government leader Hun Sen and his political opponents, according to Vice Foreign Minister Shunji Yanai.
Sihanouk responded that he will make efforts to end the confrontations, Yanai said. Tensions are increasing between Hun Sen and his rivals, including Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who continue to oppose the result of the July 26 general election.
The opposition alleges massive electoral fraud allowed Hun Sen to win the election. Yanai said the Japanese government is urging all parties that gained seats in the election to respect the poll results.