Yim Sovann and Mu Sochua, both prominent lawmakers of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), failed in votes for the posts of chairpersons of the National Assembly's commissions in confidential votes on Wednesday.

The CNRP nominated male-lawmaker Yim Sovann as the head of the National Assembly's investigation and anti-corruption commission, and female-lawmaker Mu Sochua as the head of the commission on public affairs, social work and women's affairs.

According to the results of the separate confidential votes in the National Assembly, Yim Sovann received only 56 votes out of the 122 votes, while Mu Sochua earned merely 56 votes of the 122 votes.

Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly, declared that the duo "failed in the votes."

The CNRP's 55 lawmakers early this month ended a nearly year- long boycott of the National Assembly over last year's election after Prime Minister Hun Sen, vice-president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and CNRP President Sam Rainsy struck a power-sharing agreement on July 22.

Under the deal, the CNRP possesses the post of the first vice- president of the National Assembly and chairs five of the 10 commissions. In addition, it will control four of the nine seats on the would-be National Election Committee.

Hun Sen publicly assured the CNRP last week that his party's 68 lawmakers would vote for the opposition's appointments as agreed under the July 22 deal.

In separate votes in the National Assembly, the CPP lawmakers voted in favor of all opposition lawmakers, except Yim Sovann and Mu Sochua.

Speaking to reporters after the voting session, CNRP President Sam Rainsy expressed regret that the CPP lawmakers did not vote for the duo.

"The CPP has not fully implemented the agreement on July 22," he said. "We hope that there will be an appropriate solution in the near future."

However, a ruling party's senior lawmaker, Chheang Vun, said, " It is lawmakers' rights to vote for them or not."