PHNOM PENH, Oct 7 (AFP) - Cambodia's King
Norodom Sihanouk, who is in Beijing, has abdicated, his son and
national assembly president Prince Norodom Ranariddh told
reporters Thursday.
"According to a royal message that we have
received and read to the national assembly, the king has
abdicated," Ranariddh said.
"The king said Chea Sim (the Senate president)
will be the acting head of state and he has written that from
now on, Norodom Sihanouk is retired."
The king, 81, had repeatedly threatened to
abdicate after being sidelined during a year-long political
crisis in the kingdom.
