15 October 2004	Friday	29 Shaban 1425

PHNOM PENH, Oct 14: Former dancer and cultural diplomat Prince Norodom Sihamoni, 51, was on Thursday elected Cambodia's new monarch, replacing his ailing father king Norodom Sihanouk who abdicated last week.

Sihamoni was chosen in a unanimous vote by a throne council, as had been widely expected and in line with the wishes of his 81-year-old father. The council "voted to elect a new king of Cambodia, with great and remarkable success.

The new king is named Norodom Sihamoni," chairman Chea Sim said at the end of an unprecedented meeting later broadcast on state-run television. "This is a golden opportunity of priceless value in the history of the... kingdom of Cambodia," he told the other eight members of the council before they voted.

Sihamoni, a former classical ballet dancer, choreographer and film-maker, was most recently Cambodia's ambassador to UNESCO in Paris and is known to be reluctant to take the mostly symbolic but highly revered post. He replaces the colourful and resilient Sihanouk, who had held the throne on and off for more than 60 years.

The ailing Sihanouk had given his strong backing to his only surviving son by Queen Monineath. The council had been unlikely to vote against his wishes, although it had no legal obligation to follow them.

Council members wore white uniforms and were ushered in and out of the meeting at the Royal Palace with an honour guard that featured a red carpet and military drummers in the manicured grounds.

Speculation was fuelled that Sihamoni would succeed his father when he joined his parents last month in Beijing, where they have spent most of their time since January. -AFP