Cambodian king returns home from world tour

Oct 19, 2006, 17:32 GMT

Phnom Penh - Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni returned home late Thursday after a world tour which included private visits to China and France and state visits to the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The king left Cambodia with his parents, former king Norodom Sihanouk and queen mother Norodom Monineath, in early September, staying briefly with them in China before going on to Europe.

Sihamoni was officially made an honorary Czech citizen during his visit there.

On his return home he was met at the airport by palace dignitaries and political officials including Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Sihamoni returned via China, where Sihanouk remains undergoing medical assessment. Sihanouk, who turns 84 this month, said last week on his website that he would not be returning to Cambodia until next year.

The former king has suffered a number of health problems including colon cancer and diabetes and cited these problems as well as age when he abdicated in favour of Sihamoni two years ago.

Sihamoni is expected to fulfill a traditional royal role at the nation's Water Festival, an important annual event marked with boat races in the capital which celebrates the end of monsoon season and the beginning of the rice harvest. It will be held in early November.