Cambodia - King Sihanouk returns

(29 Aug 1997) T/I: 10:33:51 Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihanouk returned to his troubled homeland on Friday (29/8) after six months of medical treatment in China, expressing hopes of restoring peace after last month’s bloody coup. Although he has little real power, the 74-year-old king remains a popular figure in Cambodia and could influence Second Prime Minister Hun Sen, who seized power in the factional fighting that deposed Sihanouk’s son, Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Cambodia’s new strongman, Hun Sen was among the party who welcomed Sihanouk when he arrived at Siem Reap airport and the two talked briefly. The welcoming party also included Ung Huot, installed by Hun Sen to replace Ranariddh and maintain an image of power-sharing in line with the 1993 UN-sponsored elections that created the tense coalition shattered by the coup. SHOWS: SIEM REAP, NORTHERN CAMBODIA. 29 AUGUST, 1997 WS motorists on street; sign saying Welcome King and Queen; CU guns