Cambodia warns foreigners to stay away from poll protests

Stolen Vote Protest:
PHNOM PENH, Sep 1 – The Cambodian government on Sunday warned foreigners to stay away from opposition protests against a hotly disputed election as thousands of riot police practised crowd control in the capital.

Authorities and security forces would “avoid potential clashes at all costs” said the government in a statement released ahead of expected September 7 mass opposition protests against the poll results.

“All foreigners living in the Kingdom of Cambodia should keep a reasonable distance from all protests related to the election,” the statement said.

Thousands of Cambodian police officers, armed with batons and shields, were seen learning protest control tactics early Sunday in a park in Phnom Penh.

Security forces were deployed around the capital in the aftermath of the July 28 poll, in a move the opposition has decried as intimidation.