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Cambodian secretary of state attacked by acid

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-14 09:06

PHNOM PENH -- Ngor Srun, secretary of state at the Cambodian Council of Ministers and top aid for Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, was the victim of an acid attack Sunday morning and now in Thailand for further medical care, said police source here Monday.

The attack occurred in downtown Phnom Penh, as Srun ended his participation of a major general election campaign for the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and prepared to bring his vehicle to a nearby workshop for mechanical check, said the source.

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Srun was hospitalized at the Calmette Hospital around 11:00 am local time Sunday and transferred to Thailand later in the afternoon, the source said.

Police refused to give more details of the crime.

English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodia Daily Monday quoted hospital source as saying that Srun was burnt on the left side of his face, ear and chest.

His wounds were cleaned, treated and bandaged in the emergency room over the course of two hours, said the source.

"The patient's symptoms seemed fine. But with an acid attack, it is hard to predict," the source added.

Meanwhile, the paper quoted an anonymous man as saying that " this is a family problem, (but) I want to keep it a secret."

Sarun, a CPP member, is husband to the second daughter of Cambodian Senator President Chea Sim.

This has been the second high-profile crime so far during Cambodia's general election month, which started in June and will end on July 27.

Friday, veteran reporter Khim Sambo and his son were shot dead on street. Sambo used to work as part-time contributor for the Khmer Conscience News, a Cambodian-language newspaper closely affiliated with major opposition party.