Thursday, June 25, 1998 Published at 11:35 GMT 12:35 UK
Cambodia poll campaign underway
Election rallies begin across Cambodia
The official month-long campaigning period in Cambodia's general elections has begun amid concerns over how fair they will be.
Prince Ranariddh's party won the largest share of votes in the last election.
Opposition politician Sam Rainsy has said political intimidation and restrictions on access to electronic media make the campaign process unfair for opposition parties. He has said he will withdraw from the poll if improvements are not made.
Human rights groups and international donors have also voiced concern. They say they are worried by Cambodia's current political climate, and will be closely monitoring events over the next few weeks before polling day, hoping for positive signs of change.
Hun Sen has been in almost total control of Cambodia since the July 1997 coup. His party says its main priorities are the battle against poverty, and against the remnants of the Khmer Rouge guerrillas, who are still active in some areas of the north.
Prince Ranariddh, who fled the country after fighting between two wings of the former coalition government, says he believes the central issue is democracy.