Cambodian protests call on PM to quit

Tens of thousands of Cambodian opposition demonstrators have gathered to demand the resignation of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Backed by striking garment-factory workers, the protesters are calling for fresh elections. The garment workers have in recent days joined the protests demanding that the government raise the minimum wage from a paltry $95 to $160 a month.

"Hun Sen and his illegal government can hear us, they can't ignore us, the people show their will for change," Sam Rainsy, leader of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, told the rally in a Phnom Penh park on Sunday.

The former Cambodian finance minister demanded the resignation of the prime minister and demanded a new election.

Under Hun Sen, Cambodia's economy has prospered into one of the continent's fastest growing. Coupled by a burgeoning garment industry and growing political and investment ties with China, Sen's government has transformed the country's economy

However, amid widespread corruption, his authoritarian rule has earned the condemnation of rights groups and alienated many voters. Many have now come out in a show of defiance previously perceived as unthinkable.

Hun Sen's long-dominant Cambodian People's Party won a July election but with a reduced majority. It has rejected opposition complaints of vote-rigging.

Hun Sen, who has been in power for 28 years, has ignored opposition demands for an investigation into the election and says that he will not resign or call a new election.

Meanwhile, the country's biggest labour union said that more than 200 of 600 factories had closed because of the strike for higher pay, citing the "unacceptable" minimum wage as the main reason.

The Cambodian protests are the latets across the continent with Thailand and Bangladesh protests increasing.