PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Remnants of the Khmer Rouge attacked a military outpost Sunday, leaving 10 people dead and tarnishing parliamentary elections in a nation desperate for peace.
Elsewhere, voting was relatively peaceful after a violent campaign in which strongman Hun Sen was accused of killing opponents and intimidating voters to ensure victory for his Cambodian People’s Party. Scattered reports of voter intimidation and ballot box tampering were not considered serious enough to invalidate the election.
Some 5.3 million people — 98 percent of registered voters — cast ballots, according to election officials. It was a new experience for many of the thousands of Khmer Rouge rebels who have defected to the government in recent years.
The worst trouble was the Khmer Rouge attack. National Election Committee spokesman Samraing Kimsan said 40 to 50 guerrillas struck an army outpost at 5 a.m. at O’Kong Bich, 6 miles west of Anlong Veng, the Khmer Rouge stronghold that fell to the government in April.
One guerrilla, two soldiers and seven civilians were killed. Two rebels were taken prisoner. Three houses were burned.
Defense Minister Tea Banh blamed the attack on hard-liners under Gen. Ta Mok. The general’s followers, the last still fighting, had vowed to disrupt the election process.