A delegation of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, an international group of lawmakers, said in Cambodia Wednesday the opposition Sam Rainsy and Human Rights parties should join together in an effort to defeat the Cambodian People's Party in next year's elections.
The two parties have so far failed to join in a so-called "alliance of democrats," citing leadership differences, as the country heads toward national parliamentary elections in July.
IPU delegation leader Ann Clwyd, a parliamentarian from the UK, met with Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha Wednesday.
Following the meeting, Clwyd said she would like to see cooperation between the parties, Kem Sokha said.
"I support her idea, wanting the democrats to unite to win the 2008 election," he said, reiterating that he would like to see an alliance, or coalition, rotate its presidency every two years.
"The Sam Rainsy Party has appealed to all democracy lovers, justice lovers, and all the royalists to unite with the [party]," SRP Secretary-General Eng Chhay Eang said Wednesday. "SRP is not limited, but other politicians form a political party according their views and will. This is their political right within the law."