Son says Cambodian king healthy, to return home this week

September 10, 2000
Web posted at: 9:42 PM HKT (1342 GMT)

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Reuters) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk will return home on September 16, after spending more than a month in Beijing for routine medical treatment, his son said on Sunday.

"His Majesty the King will return home on the 16th," Prince Norodom Ranariddh told reporters.

"I spoke on the phone to Her Majesty the Queen and I'm happy to tell the national and international public that His Majesty the King's health is very good," he said.

"There is a rumour saying the king will die. This is not true and is an insult to the king in order to confuse the national and international public's opinion," he added.

Sihanouk went to the Chinese capital, where he maintains a residence and visits several times a year, on August 6.

The ailing 77-year-old constitutional monarch suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure and has been treated for cancer. He will turn 78 on October 31.

This is the second time in three days that Ranariddh, president of Cambodia's parliament, has spoken of his father's health and return to Cambodia.

Sihanouk is generally well liked and some political analysts have said his death could spark civil conflict in a country that has only recently emerged from decades of fighting.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For more ASIANOW news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

See related sites about Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian media sites

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.