Cambodia's opposition parties to merge as a new party: Joint Statement

PHNOM PENH, July 17 (Xinhua) -- The Sam Rainsy Party, which is the country's main opposition party, and the Human Rights Party announced Tuesday that they would "merge to form a new political party" to compete in the general elections in July next year, according to a joint statement.

The merger plan was made after the two-day meeting on July 16- 17 between Sam Rainsy, the fugitive leader of Sam Rainsy Party, and Kem Sokha, president of the Human Rights Party, in Manila, the Philippines.

According to the agreement, Sam Rainsy will be the president of the yet-to-form party and Kem Sokha will be the deputy leader.

Cambodia sets to hold the general elections in July 2013.

The last elections were held in July 2008.

As a result, the Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen won 90 seats out of the 123 seats in the National Assembly, followed by the Sam Rainsy Party with 26 seats, the Human Rights Party 3 seats, the Norodom Ranariddh Party 2 seats and the Funcinpec Party 2 seats.