Cambodian former King Norodom Sihanouk arrives home from China

PHNOM PENH, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk and his wife Queen Monineath Sihanouk arrived home Thursday afternoon after they had spent almost a year in China for medical treatment.

Soon after arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, the former King Norodom Sihanouk and his wife proceeded straight to his royal residence in Siem Reap town where he will stay for a while.

Norodom Sihanouk and his wife left for China on August 1, 2008 and he had stayed there for medical treatment as advised by his Chinese doctors.

The ex-King Norodom Sihanouk, 86, has said that he had suffered a number of illnesses including diabetes and cancer.

But two weeks ago, he said he has recovered from his third cancer of its kind after treatment by his Chinese doctors.

On June 27, Sihanouk issued a statement saying his doctors had informed him of being able to return home, but suggested him to fly back to China in September and stay in China at least until the end of the year.

Welcoming the former King's arrival were his son King Norodom Sihamoni, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng, Royal Palace Minister Kong Sam Ol, the country's police chief Neth Saveoun, royal family members and other government officials.

Retired king returns to Cambodia for two-month visit

Thu, 09 Jul 2009
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodia's retired king Norodom Sihanouk returned to his homeland for a two-month visit Thursday after spending almost a year in Beijing receiving treatment for cancer. The 86-year-old king-father and Queen-Mother Monique landed at Siem Reap International Airport about 3 pm and immediately traveled to a royal residence in the northern town.

Sihanouk last month announced he would return to Cambodia for two months after being successfully treated in Beijing for B-cell lymphoma, which attacks blood cells crucial to the body's immune system.

It was his third bout of cancer since 1993.

But Sihanouk said at the time he would have to return to Beijing after two months to continue his medical treatment.

Sihanouk abdicated and was replaced by his son Norodom Sihamoni in 2004, but he remains an influential figure in Cambodian politics.

He was appointed king by Cambodia's French rulers in 1941, but in 1955 Sihanouk abandoned the throne to become prime minister.

After being overthrown in a military coup in 1970, Sihanouk sided with the Maoist Khmer Rouge, who came to power in 1975 and oversaw the deaths of up to 2 million people until Vietnam invaded in 1979.

He was forced out of office again and remained virtually imprisoned in the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh during most of the Khmer Rouge's rule.

Sihanouk returned to the throne in 1993, but frequently traveled to Beijing for treatment for a range of illnesses.