The Leader of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) has rejected news on reaching an agreement with the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).

The two parties have not totally agreed on the draft agreement on the date for a new election, CNRP President Sam Rainsy told a press conference on April 10.

However, the two parties pledged to further negotiate, he said, adding that they will probably hold a top-level meeting in the Royal Palace late this month, when CNRP Vice President Kem Sokha returns from a mission in the United States.

Sam Rainsy’s remarks came after local media reported that Sam Rainsy and Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed in principle a tentative election organisation plan on April 9 and it would be submitted to King Norodom Sihamoni on April 11.

Also on April 10, PM Hun Sen confirmed that he had telephone talks with Sam Rainsy over the current political dispute, focusing on electoral reform and a date for a general election.

The two sides verbally agreed to choose February 2018 for the general election, five months earlier than originally planned.

However, PM Hun Sen said that CNRP Vice President Kem Sokha later disagreed with the agreement.

If the two parties cannot reach an agreement to end the current political dispute, Kem Sokha will be blamed for the failure, he stressed.

The dispute between the two parties has simmered since the July 2013 election results showed that the CPP won 68 parliamentary seats against the CNRP’s 55.

Having boycotted parliament since September, the CNRP is demanding a re-election and deep electoral reform.-VNA