Lawmakers from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) have accused the opposition of staging coup against the government.

In their statement issued on December 23, they said that the opposition’s calls for Prime Minister Hun Sen’s resignation and a re-election are a “clear and undeniable act of coup” against the current legitimate government.

The statement signed by 42 ruling party lawmakers affirmed that the non-stop protests since December 15 led by the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)’s President Sam Rainsy were illegal and have violated the Demonstration Law.

On December 22 afternoon, an estimated 20,000 anti-government demonstrators took to the streets in the capital and asked PM Hun Sen to step down.

Earlier, Prime Minister Hun Sen affirmed that he will neither step down nor call a re-election because he has done nothing wrong.

He warned that his government will take legal action against protesters if they block highways or capture government buildings.

Political row between the ruling party and the opposition party has persisted since the July election results showed that the ruling party won a majority of vote with 68 parliamentary seats against 55 seats for the opposition.

The opposition refused to accept the outcome and has boycotted the parliament since then.

Despite the opposition's boycott, the ruling party-formed parliament voted on September 24 for the establishment of a new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The CPP said it is ready to talk with the opposition party to resolve the political deadlock that followed the national election.

CNRP official Kuy Bun Ruon on December 22 told the press that the two parties will resume talks in the coming time.-VNA