Cambodians turned out in huge numbers yesterday for elections marred by a Khmer Rouge rebel attack which left 10 people dead.
There were long queues outside polling stations early in the day for the election, which followed a campaign marked by reports of violence and political intimidation, but which was still expected to lead to a coalition.
The most serious incidents came before voting started, in a village near the former Khmer Rouge northern stronghold of Anlong Veng, although the government said even that failed to disrupt voting.
Remnants of the Khmer Rouge force attacked the village of O Kong Vinh, near the Thai border. Seven civilians, two soldiers and a Khmer Rouge fighter were killed in the attack by between 30 and 40 rebels at about 5 a.m., according to diplomatic sources and the National Election Committee.
It was the only reported election-day violence, according to the Defence Minister, Mr Tea Banh. The Khmer Rouge had threatened to disrupt the poll and on July 17th attacked election officials distributing polling material, killing two guards.
The Cambodian strongman, Mr Hun Sen, hailed the election as a victory for the troubled country, but warned it would turn into a defeat if it failed to lead to greater international recognition.
He said that in the unlikely event that his Cambodian People's Party did not win enough seats to form at least a coalition government, he would transfer power swiftly and peacefully. "Some people have the idea that they will need to . . . force Hun Sen to transfer power, but that is not necessary."
The election was the first since the UN-organised polls in 1993 and the first pluralistic poll organised by the country alone in three decades.
Mr Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP), the royalist FUNCINPEC party led by Prince Norodom Ranariddh, and the Sam Rainsy Party, were seen as the leading contenders to form a coalition.
According to the election committee spokesman Mr Samraing Kimsan, there were no reports of closed polling stations or of threats, but there had been overcrowding at the stations during early voting, especially in Phnom Penh.
However, the opposition party of the former finance minister Mr Sam Rainsy, which has complained about irregularities, violence and intimidation, said it had received numerous reports of minor problems. Complaints included election officials holding up voters, harassment and uncontrolled crowds. The party said a full investigation was needed.
Human rights groups and the opposition have complained of widespread intimidation and violence, and international observers refused to certify the campaign as free and fair, but there was hope that the polls could be regarded as acceptable.
International recognition is critical for Cambodia's attempts to take up its vacant seat at the United Nations and become a full member of the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN). This was denied last year following Mr Hun Sen's overthrow of the former first prime minister Prince Ranariddh.
ASEAN, which is holding a security meeting in Manila, has called for the polls to be "free, fair and transparent".