Cambodian MPs Oust Ranariddh

Cambodia's parliament has voted to replace the country's First Prime Minister, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, with the Foreign Minister, Ung Huot.

Ung Huot has the backing of the second premier, Hun Sen, who ousted Prince Ranariddh after two days of battles in Phnom Penh a month ago.

The vote, by secret ballot, was passed by an overwhelming majority, with just four against, six abstentions and three spoilt ballot papers.

Hun Sen (right) congratulating his new co-premier

Before that, MPs had voted in an open show of hands to strip Prince Ranariddh of his parliamentary immunity, paving the way for him to face prosecution for treason.

Just one MP - Tach Reng, from a minority party, the BLDP - voted against that move. He told the BBC he did not agree with the legal procedures and said he was also making a political point - that in a democracy dissenting voices should be heard.

But now the motion has been passed the Prince could face the courts if he returned to Cambodia over allegations by his rival co-premier, Hun Sen, that he smuggled weapons and troops into the capital and illegally negotiated with the outlawed guerrilla group, the Khmer Rouge.

Nearly 20 opposition MPs fled Cambodia following the coup and were not in parliament for the vote. Many accuse Hun Sen of using parliament to legitimise his military actions.

Hun Sen - who is in effect Cambodia's leader - said the votes demonstrated that democracy in Cambodia was alive and well.

There is also still some doubt as to whether the country's monarch - Prince Ranariddh's father, King Norodom Sihanouk - will approve parliament's decision. Last week he said he would not accept the legitimacy of such a vote if it was taken by an incomplete parliament working under "questionable conditions of freedom and regularity".