Warm Welcome for King, Cold Shoulder for Rivals

Top leaders from the ruling and opposition parties were on hand at Phnom Penh international airport Wednesday to welcome home King Norodom Sihamoni from a medical trip to Beijing. But neither side made use of the occasion for sideline talks over the country’s ongoing political crisis. In fact, neither side said much or anything to the other. Nor did they look at one another. Prime Minister Hun Sen and his political rival, Sam Rainsy, who is head of the Cambodia National Rescue Party, stood within 10 meters of each other as the king deplaned and greeted dignitaries who stood in line to welcome him home. But they chose not to speak to each other. VOA Khmer's Heng Reaksmey and Say Mony report from Phnom Penh.