Cambodia: Hun Sen Tightens Control

Prince Norodom Ranariddh, president of Cambodia's royalist FUNCINPEC party, resigned his post as president of the National Assembly because he was "too busy to meet his party members." Ranariddh's resignation comes as Prime Minister Hun Sen of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) tightens his control over the National Assembly ahead of 2008 national elections, reducing the power of his coalition partner, FUNCINPEC. While signifying further strains in the CPP-FUNCINPEC alliance, the political machinations in Phnom Penh are unlikely to lead to a significant deterioration in Cambodia's overall security environment.