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Cambodia cremates revered King Father’s body

The cremation ceremony for Cambodian King Father Norodom Sihanouk took place at the Veal Preah Meru Square, Phnom Penh on February 4.
The cremation ceremony for Cambodian King Father Norodom Sihanouk tookplace at the Veal Preah Meru Square, Phnom Penh on February 4.

The event was attended by King Norodom Sihamoni, Queen MotherNorodom Monineath Sihanouk, President of the Senate Chea Sim, Presidentof the National Assembly Heng Samrin, Prime Minister Hun Sen, amongother royal family members and senior officials.

Many regionaland international leaders were also present, including Vietnamese PrimeMinister Nguyen Tan Dung, Chinese People’s Political ConsultativeConference Chairman Jia Qinglin, Lao Prime Minister ThongsingThammavong, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, and French PrimeMinister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Following the ceremony, KingSihamoni granted amnesty to 405 prisoners, including 30 foreigners fromVietnam, Thailand, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Greece andNigeria.

According to the organisers, since the KingFather’s body was moved from the Royal Palace to the crematorium onFebruary 1, about 2 million people arrived in Phnom Penh to pay lasttribute to the King Father.

Born on December 31, 1922 ,Sihanouk came to the throne for the first time in 1941, and the secondtime in 1993. In 2004, he abdicated in favour of his son, the currentKing Norodom Sihamoni.

He died of a heart attack in Beijing on October 15, 2012.-VNA
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