The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on Wednesday officially filed complaints against the initial election results, which showed that the ruling party of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen won a majority of vote.

"We have received more than 10 complaints from the CNRP in cities and provinces. Those complaints were filed against the preliminary poll results on Monday," Tep Nytha, secretary general of the National Election Committee (NEC), told Xinhua over telephone. "They claimed that there are irregularities during the poll."

He said the NEC has two days to solve those complaints and if the complainants still disagree with the NEC's decision, they can appeal to the Constitutional Council within three days.

"With their complaints, the final election results will be released on Sept. 8," he said.

The initial official results showed that the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Prime Minister Hun Sen got 3,235,969 votes and the CNRP of longtime opposition leader Sam Rainsy received 2, 946,176 votes.

The CPP calculated that with its 3,235,969 votes, it won 68 seats of the 123 parliamentary seats, while the CNRP, with its 2, 946,176 votes, got the remaining 55 seats.

Hun Sen, who has ruled the country for 28 years, would continue to stay in power for another five years through the outcome.

But the CNRP rejected the results, warning that there could be possible uprising or protests by people if an independent poll irregularity investigation committee was not formed.

The opposition claimed that its party should win 63 seats, with the CPP getting the remaining 60 seats if the serious irregularities were investigated and resolved.

Tep Nytha said there was no need to talk about the joint poll probe committee as the initial results had already been released.

"No more negotiation for the joint committee as the temporary results were released," he said.

Hundreds of non-governmental organization staff and common people prayed on Wednesday in Phnom Penh for peace after the dispute between the two parties over the election results has hardened.

"We pray to the God for a peaceful solution to the political deadlock after the July 28 national election," Cheang Sokha, executive director of NGO Youth Resource Development Program, said while leading about 200 people to pray at Preah Ang Dangker Shrine in front of the capital's Royal Palace. "Our pray is a message to politicians that we want peace, so their dispute should be settled by peaceful means."

Demonstration could not resolve the problems; instead, it would lead to social unrest and political instability, Tim Malay, director of NGO Cambodian Youth Network, said on Wednesday while leading another group of people to pray at Wat Phnom Shrine.

"We call on all parties to sort out their problems peacefully for the sake of the nation," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng said last Friday that soldiers and armored vehicles had been deployed on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, in order to ensure security and stability after opposition leader Sam Rainsy had repeatedly called for mass demonstrations against the results.

Sam Rainsy called on the government to stop the military buildup and to stop moving the armed forced around so as to stop creating fear among the population.

"We appeal to policemen and soldiers to refrain from using violence against any citizens because we all are Khmers, peaceful Buddhists, and love our country," he wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday from the United States.



Sam Rainsy left Cambodia for Massachusetts, the United States on Aug. 6 to attend his daughter's wedding. CNRP spokesman Yem Ponharith confirmed with Xinhua on Wednesday that Sam Rainsy would return to Cambodia on Thursday.