Cambodia's King Sihanouk: not happy with recent events

Cambodian Ministers Seek King's Blessing

Hun Sen - nominally second Prime Minister but the strong man behind the coup which ousted Prince Ranariddh - was accompanied by the new first Prime Minister, Ung Huot.

The talks took place at the king's residence in the Chinese capital, Beijing, where he has been having medical treatment. The king's office says they were purely private.

Beforehand, King Sihanouk had said the visitors were coming to pay their respects and not to talk politics. But Hun Sen had said he wanted to explain his actions and his plan for government.

He needs the King's approval to consolidate his position, both at home and abroad, and Cambodia will be watching closely for the King's reaction.

King Sihanouk has watched events unfold back home with dismay, but he says it is not in his power as a constitutional monarch to intervene.

He has not tried to block Hun Sen's political moves and has let the acting head of state sign decrees on his behalf. But he has made clear his disapproval.

He says he still considers his son to be Cambodia's legal first Prime Minister. But in Cambodia, Hun Sen's government has now issued a warrant for the Prince's arrest on charges of weapons smuggling.