Cambodia ’s Joint-Committee on Electoral Reforms with members from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), on March 10 continued negotiations for the renovation of polls.

Speaking at a joint press briefing after a three-hour talk, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Ben Chhin – the CPP’s negotiation team leader - said the meeting focused on two topics, including the reform of the National Election Committee (NEC) following the CNRP’s proposal, and the integrity and neutrality of the election-related civil society organizations initiated by the CPP.

A joint statement was yet to be released as both sides still disagreed on the use of some terminologies in the statement, he said.

Meanwhile, Son Chhay, who led the CPP’s negotiation team, said both sides will meet again on March 17 to further discuss the disagreed points.

During an earlier sitting on March 3, the committee agreed on the review of the candidate and voter registration and a draft law on the financing of political parties as well as the design of a mechanism to handle irregularities in election and the guarantee of the political parties' access to the media.

The joint committee was set up during a meeting between the CPP and CNRP on February 18.

The political dispute in Cambodia has persisted since the July election results, which showed that the CPP won 68 parliamentary seats against 55 seats for the CNRP.

Claiming serious irregularities during the poll, the CNRP refused to accept the outcome and has boycotted parliament and held many protests in order to demand the resignation of Hun Sen and a re-election.

The CPP, however, rejected the CNRP demand on a re-election.-VNA