Cambodian opposition boycotts parliament over vote

An opposition party supporter of Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) reads letters of a petition near Royaln Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: AP

Opposition lawmakers boycotted the opening of Cambodia’s parliament on Monday to protest what they allege was widespread cheating in July elections.

The 55 National Assembly seats belonging to lawmakers elected from the opposition were empty, while 68 lawmakers from Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling party were in attendance.

The opposition says it was cheated out of a victory because of electoral fraud. It had vowed for weeks to boycott parliament unless the government agreed to an independent probe of the

>July 28 election results .

The government has rejected the demand.