Cambodia General Information Area: 181,035 sq km (69,898 sq miles). Population: 12,212,306 (official estimate 2000). Population Density: 67.5 per sq km. Capital: Phnom Penh. Population: 900,000 (1991). GEOGRAPHY: Cambodia shares borders in the north with Laos and Thailand, in the east with Vietnam and in the southwest with the Gulf of Thailand. The landscape comprises tropical rainforest and fertile cultivated land traversed by many rivers. In the northeast area rise highlands. The capital is located at the junction of the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. The latter flows from a large inland lake, also called Tonle Sap, situated in the centre of the country. There are numerous offshore islands along the southwest coast. Government: Constitutional monarchy since 1993. Head of State: King Norodom Sihanouk since 1993. Head of Government: Prime Minister Hun Sen since 1998. Language: Khmer is the official language and spoken by 95 per cent of the population. Chinese and Vietnamese are also spoken. French was widely spoken until the arrival of the Pol Pot regime and is still taught in schools, but English is now a more popular language to learn among the younger generation. Religion: Ninety-five per cent Buddhist (Theravada), the remainder Muslim and Christian. Buddhism was reinstated as the national religion in the late 1980s after a ban on religious activity in 1975. Time: GMT + 7. Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Power cuts are frequent. Outside Phnom Penh, electrical power is available only in the evenings from around 1830-2130. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available to Cambodia. At present outgoing international calls can not be made. Country code: 855. Phnom Penh code: 23. Prepaid telephone cards are available in post offices, hotels and supermarkets for public phones around Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Mobile telephone GSM 900 and 1800 networks cover Phnom Penh and other main cities. Main network operators include Samart (website: www.hello016-gsm.com), Cambodia Shinawatra (website: www.camshin.com) and MobilTel (website: www.mobitel.com.kh). Fax Service is available in hotels and Internet shops. Internet ISPs include CambodiaWeb (website: www.cambodia-web.net) and Big Pond (website: www.bigpond.com.kh). Internet cafes are available in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Post Airmail to Europe takes four to five days, and to the USA one week to ten days. The Post & Telephone Office (PTT) in Phnom Penh is located across from the Hotel Monorom at the corner of Achar Mean Boulevard and 126 Street and is open 0700-1200 and 1300-2300. The main post office in Phnom Penh is located on the western side of 13 Street between 98 Street and 102 Street, open 0630-2100. General post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1200 and 1430-1700. Press The Phnom Penh Post and Cambodia Daily are printed in English. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.36 9.740 6.195 3.915 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 17.74 11.71 9.645 6.110 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes Yes No Australian Yes Yes No Canadian Yes Yes No USA Yes Yes No OtherEU Yes Yes No Japanese Yes Yes No PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least three months at time of entry required by all. VISAS: Required by all. Types of visa and cost: Tourist (single-entry): visas cost €25 (US$20) for stays of up to one month only; extensions of one extra month can be obtained at the Minisitry of Interior (Immigration Office). Business (single-entry): visas cost €30 (US$25) for stays of up to one month only (see above for extensions, possible between two to three months). Visitors arriving by air can obtain a visa for stays of up to 30 days on arrival at Pochentong International Airport, Phnom Penh or Siem Reap, Angkor (US$20 for tourist stays of up to one month, US$30 for business stays of up to one month. Extensions are available from the Ministry of Interior in Phnom Penh. Visitors are advised to check current situation before travelling. Validity: Three months by the Embassy, but valid only for one month in Cambodia. Extensions may be granted by the Immigration Office in Phnom Penh. In some cases, business travellers may exceptionally be granted a six-month visa. Application to: Consulate (or Consular section of Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Business visas are obtainable through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Phnom Penh or by official invitation. Tourists on package tours will normally have their visas arranged by the tour operator. Note: Applications by post will only be accepted through a recognised visa courier. For further details contact the nearest Consulate (or Consular section of Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Application requirements: (a) One completed application form. (b) Two passport-size photos. (c) Valid passport. (d) Fee in cash only. Working days required: Two days. Money Currency: Riel (CRl) = 100 sen. Notes are in denominations of CRl100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000, 500 and 100. Currency exchange: US Dollars are widely accepted and exchanged, but other currencies are generally not recognised. Credit & debit cards: Limited acceptance, but can be used in upmarket hotels and restaurants catering to visitors. Travellers cheques: Limited acceptance. Travellers cheques are generally not recommended. Travellers cheques in US dollars can be changed at the official rate at the Foreign Trade Bank in Phnom Penh. Currency restrictions: Import and export of local currency is prohibited. Foreign currency may be exported up to the limit declared at customs on arrival. Amounts over US$10,000 have to be declared. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Riel against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00 5588.74 5832.66 6064.67 6106.28 $1.00 3835.00 3835.00 3835.00 3835.00 Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1530. Some banks are open on Saturdays. Duty Free The following goods may be taken into Cambodia without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or an equivalent quantity of cigars or tobacco; 1 opened bottle of spirit; a reasonable amount of perfume. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Feb 1 Chinese New Year. Mar 8 Women’s Day. Apr 13-15 Cambodian New Year. May Royal Ploughing Day Ceremony. May 1 Labour Day. May 17 Visaka Buja Day (Birth of Buddha). Jun 1 International Children’s Day. Jun 18 Queen’s Birthday. Sep 24 Constitution and Coronation Day. Sep/Oct (three days) Phchum Ben (Feast of the Ancestors). Oct 23 Paris Peace Agreement. Oct 30-Nov 1 King’s Birthday. Nov (three days) Water Festival. Nov 9 Independence Day. Dec 10 UN Human Rights Day. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Jan 22 Chinese New Year. Mar 8 Women’s Day. Apr 13-15 Cambodian New Year. May Royal Ploughing Day Ceremony. May 1 Labour Day. May 5 Visaka Buja Day (Birth of Buddha). Jun 1 International Children’s Day. Jun 18 Queen’s Birthday. Sep 24 Constitution and Coronation Day. Oct 5-7 Phchum Ben Day (Feast of the Ancestors). Oct 23 Paris Peace Agreement. Oct 30-Nov 1 King’s Birthday. Nov (three days) Water Festival. Nov 9 Independence Day. Dec 10 UN Human Rights Day. Note: The religious festivals are determined by the Buddhist lunar calender and are therefore variable. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No 1 Cholera Yes 2 Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A Malaria 4 N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required by travellers arriving from infected areas. 2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Cambodia. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. A cholera epidemic recently occurred in the Rottankiri province in the northeast. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix for further information. 3: Immunisation against typhoid is recommended. Polio vaccination should be up-to-date. 4: Malaria risk exists all year throughout the country. The malignant falciparum strain predominates and is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine. Resistance to mefloquine has been reported from the western provinces. Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should first be boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Giardiasis, dysentery, typhoid fever and dengue fever are common throughout Cambodia. Hepatitis A occurs, hepatitis B is hyperendemic. Japanese encephailitis occurs in rural areas May to October and is relatively common. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information consult the Health appendix. Health care: Health insurance is absolutely essential. Doctors and hospitals expect cash payments for any medical treatment. Travel - International AIR: Cambodia’s national airline, Royal Air Cambodge (VJ), operates internationally to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Guangzhou (China), Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong. Thai International and Bangkok Airways fly to Phnom Penh from Bangkok. Malaysia Airlines flies from Kuala Lumpur, Vietnam Airlines from Hanoi, Aeroflot Russian International Airlines from Moscow, Silkair from Singapore and Lao International Aviation from Vientiane. Approximate flight times: From London to Phnom Penh takes 12 hours 30 minutes (with a stopover in Bangkok). International airports: Pochentong (PNH) is 8km (5 miles) from Phnom Penh. A bus service (travel time – 15 minutes) and taxis (travel time – 10 minutes) to the city are available. Taxi fares are approximately US$7 and motorbikes are US$1. For pre-arranged tours a pick-up service is available. Airport facilities include left luggage, banks/bureaux de change, bars, shops, post office and light refreshments. Departure tax: US$20 levied on international departures at Pochentong Airport; US$10 at Siem Reap Airport. SEA: The port of Phnom Penh, and the ocean port at Sihanoukville, can be reached via the Mekong delta through Vietnam. This route is served by regular passenger ferry crossings. RAIL/ROAD: The Thai border is now open for overland access, but use of this gateway is not generally recommended owing to poor road and security conditions.The main highway links the capital with the Vietnam border. Border checkpoints include Poipet, Cham Yeam (Thailand), Bavet, Kaam Sammar (Vietnam) and Stung Treng (Laos). Travel - Internal AIR: Internal flights operate between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap for Angkor (travel time – 45 minutes), Battambang, Koh Kong, Sihanoukville and Stung Treng. The newly upgraded Siem Reap Airport, the main gateway for visitors going to see the ancient temples at Angkor, is a 15-minute taxi ride from the city. Taxi fares are approximately US$5. Other airports include Bottambang, Mondulkiri, Phnom Penh, Rattanakhiri and Stung Treng. Departure tax: US$10. SEA: Government-run ferries depart from the Psar Cha Ministry of Transport Ferry Landing between 102 and 104 streets and go to Kompong Cham, Kratie, Stung Treng, Kompong Chhnang and Phnom Krom. Boats are also available from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, a route popular with travellers. Due to the present rise in crime, inter-city boat travel should be restricted to the fast boats to Kompong Cham and Kratie. RAIL: Some rail services operate, but foreigners are advised not to use them at present. There are plans to restore the international service to Bangkok, but a great deal of repair work is needed. ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. Most roads are in poor condition, although the highway to Vietnam is open. It is possible to drive from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City in a day but there are formalities involved regarding the use of the same vehicle all the way. Right hand drive vehicles (quite common in Cambodia) are not allowed entry to Vietnam. Both Cambodian and Vietnamese visas must be obtained in advance and the Vietnamese visa must mention ‘Moc Bai’ (the border point on the Vietnamese side) as a point of entry/exit otherwise travellers run the risk of being turned back. Care should be taken while driving as Cambodian drivers are prone to recklessness and accidents are relatively frequent. The safety of road travel outside urban areas varies greatly from region to region. If travel is undertaken in vehicle convoy during daylight hours only, potential risks can be reduced. Reliable information about security should be obtained before considering extensive road journeys. Bus: Buses to Phnom Penh suburbs are available from 182 Street and the bus station is open 0530-1730. Taxi: Taxis can be hired in main cities. However, Cyclo’s (tricycles) or motodops (motorcycles) are a slow but inexpensive way to see the city and some of the drivers, especially those found outside main hotels, speak a little French or English. Car hire: Official visitors can arrange to hire a government car and driver. Enquiries about car hire should be addressed to the Ministry of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). Documentation: An International Driving Permit is not recognised in Cambodia, but car hire is generally not recommended. Visitors are advised to hire a car with a driver instead which is only slightly more expensive than car hire. Accommodation There is now a variety of good hotels available. The capital Phnom Penh and Siem Reap have a number of luxury hotels offering high standards and a range of recreational facilities. Hotels and guest-houses are also available throughout the country, but standards generally tend to be basic. Camping is not permitted in Cambodia. For further information on accommodation, contact the Ministry of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). Introduction Since the ousting of the Pol Pot regime, many aspects of Khmer cultural life have revived. The famed National Ballet has been re-established by the surviving dancers and performs classical dances for visiting groups. Buddhist temples, such as Preah Vihear, close to the border with Thailand in the Dongrak mountains, have re-opened and are the sites of various celebrations, especially during Cambodian New Year. The interrogation centre of the Pol Pot regime in Phnom Penh is now the chilling Toul Sleng Museum of Genocide, also called S-21 (security office 21). Other attractions in the capital are the Royal Palace, with its famous Silver Pagoda (whose floor consists of 5000 silver tiles), and the recently restored National Museum (which includes bronze and stone sculptures from the Angkor period). River cruises, some also now offering dolphin watching, operate on the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers near the capital. The famous and magnificent temples at Angkor, in the country’s northwest, are hard and dangerous to reach by road, but may be reached by regular flights from Phnom Penh and Bangkok. This ancient and astounding temple complex is what remains of the capital of the once mighty Khmer civilisation. Angkor Wat itself, built between AD 879-1191 to honour the Hindu god Vishnu, is often hailed as one of the most extraordinary architectural creations ever built, with its intricate bas reliefs, strange acoustics and magnificent soaring towers. Oudong, 30km (19 miles) from Phnom Penh, is located on a hill overlooking vast plains and is famous for the burial chedis of the Khmer kings. Tonle Bati, 42km (26 miles) from Phnom Penh, is located near a lake close to the ancient temple of Ta Phrom. The Preah Vihear temple, in the Preah Vihear province and on the border with Thailand, is now open to members of the public. The temple is a fine example of Khmer architecture from the 12th century. For more information contact the Ministry of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). Sihanoukville is a popular beach resort town and may be reached by bus or air from Phnom Penh. Sport & Activities River tours: Trips on the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers are becoming increasingly popular, one highlight being the opportunity to see Cambodia’s famous freshwater dolphins near Kratié. Trekking: There are still many thousands of unexploded land-mines in more remote areas of Cambodia. Trekking is therefore still fairly limited, though some marked routes are available around Ratanakiri. In rural areas, travellers are strongly advised to seek local advice and not stray from the main paths. Watersports: A range of watersports, including swimming, is available at Sihanoukville. Social Profile Food & Drink: Restaurants and other businesses abound in Phnom Penh, although the city remains poor. Food stalls are also common in Phnom Penh and can usually be found in and around the Central Market, O Ressei Market and Tuol Tom Pong Market. Nightlife: The major hotels offer entertainment, and weekly Apsara dance performances are often held from November to March in some hotel gardens. The Holiday International Hotel is a popular nightclub which also offers a karoke bar and casino. For further information contact Diethelm Travel (see Contact Addresses section). Shopping: Antiques, woodcarvings, papier mâché masks, brass figurines, kramas (checked scarves), material for sarongs and hols, and items and jewellery made of gold, silver and precious stones are Cambodia’s best buys. Visitors are advised that there are strict controls on the export of antiques and stone carvings in particular. The Central Market, Tuol Tom Pong Market, Old Market and the Bijouterie d’Etat (State Jewellery Shop) are the best places for buying jewellery and the Fine Arts School sells many of the above goods in its shop. Clothing and materials are available at the Central Market. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-2100. Special Events: The following events and festivals occur annually: Jan/Feb Têt, Vietnamese and Chinese New Year. Apr Chaul Chhnam, three-day celebration of the Cambodian New Year. May Visak Bochea, Anniversary of the Buddha’s Birth; Chrat Prea Angkal, ceremonial beginning of the sowing season. Sep Phchum Ben, offerings made to dead ancestors. Nov Festival of the Reversing Current (The Water Festival). Pirogue canoe races are held in Phnom Penh. Social Conventions: Sensitivity to politically related subjects in conversation is advisable. Avoid pointing your foot at a person or touching someone on the head. Women should wear long clothing that covers the body. Photography: Permitted, with certain restrictions, such as the photographing of military installations, airports and railway stations. It is polite to ask permission before photographing Cambodian people, especially monks. Tipping: Tips are appreciated in hotels and restaurants where no service charge has been added and by tour guides. Business Profile Economy: The Cambodian economy was all but destroyed by the war in South East Asia, following the rule of the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979. Since the ousting of the Khmer Rouge from power by the Vietnamese in 1979, Cambodia has undergone a slow process of recovery. Restoration of agriculture – the foundation of the Cambodian economy and the main source of employment – has been slow but steady. Rice is the staple; other products include maize, sugar cane, cassava and bananas. The timber industry has also grown quickly on the back of heavy foreign investment and meets both domestic fuel demands and export markets but at the expense of worrying deforestation. Timber is, along with rubber, the source of most of Cambodia’s export earnings. Other mineral resources, which include phosphates, iron ore, bauxite, silicon and manganese, are limited. There is a small but fast-growing industrial sector concentrated in the production of consumer goods, processed foods and light manufacturing. Most of this has relied on foreign investment, most of which has come from elsewhere in east Asia (especially Thailand) as more developed economies seek to take advantage of Cambodia’s lower labour costs. Japan and Australia have supplanted the former Soviet Union as Cambodia’s largest trading partners. GDP growth averaged over five per cent annually during the 1990s and construction activity, especially in the capital, has been extensive. The effects of the 1997 currency crisis on the economy were mainly concentrated on foreign investors. Cambodia aspires to the status of an Asian ‘tiger’ economy and has joined, along with its neighbour Vietnam, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), now the principal regional economic cooperation body. Business: Shirt and tie should be worn. Some knowledge of French would be useful. Business hours: Mon-Fri 0700-1700. Commercial Information: For advice and information, contact The Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Paris (see Contact Addresses section). Climate Tropical monsoon climate. Monsoon season is from May to November. The most pleasant season is the dry season, from December to April. In the north, winters can be colder, while throughout most of the country temperatures remain fairly constant. Required clothing: Lightweight clothing and cottons are worn all year. Rainwear is essential during the rainy season. History and Government History: Little is known of the early history of Cambodia, although there is evidence of habitation in parts of the country as far back as 4000 BC. It is also known that Chinese and Indian traders exchanged goods with people living on the coasts of present-day Cambodia and Vietnam in the early AD centuries. According to Chinese chroniclers, a kingdom known as ‘Funan’ flourished between AD 300-600. A dynasty founded by the prince Jayavarman – possibly descended from the rulers of Funan – ruled from settlements in the eastern part of the country between around AD 790 and the 11th century. Cambodian power spread westwards during this period into parts of Thailand. The succeeding dynasty, which ruled throughout the 12th and early 13th centuries was based at the famous temple complex of Angkor Wat. Under King Suryavarman, the Cambodians extended their influence still further into southern Vietnam and northern Thailand. However, from 1220 onwards, Angkor came under concerted military pressure from the Chinese to the north and the newly-emergent kingdoms of northern Thailand. By the end of the 15th century, Angkor had been abandoned and fell into ruin. It has remained unoccupied ever since, with the exception of a brief period during the early 16th century. From then until the establishment of the French protectorate in Cambodia in 1986, Cambodia was in thrall to its more powerful Thai and Vietnamese neighbours. French involvement in Cambodia came about through its colonial engagement in Vietnam, and was largely intended to forestall possible British or Thai incursions along the Mekong river. The unstable ruling family in Cambodia at the time, headed by King Norodom, needed little persuasion to accept French protection and control over its foreign and security policies. A brief attempt to reassert Cambodia’s independence in the 1880s was put down by the French, who then absorbed Cambodia into what became French Indochina. It became an Associated State of the French Union in 1949 and fully independent in 1953. In 1955, King Norodom Sihanouk abdicated in favour of his father, Norodom Suramarit, to allow himself to enter politics. Using the title Prince Sihanouk, he founded a mass movement, the Popular Socialist Community, which held power between 1955-1966. Prince Sihanouk became Head of State in 1960 following the death of his father. The overspill of the Vietnam war, in particular the massive secret bombing campaign conducted by the Americans against Vietnamese guerrilla bases inside Cambodia, served to destabilise the Sihanouk government. In March 1970, two years after the bombing began, Prince Sihanouk was overthrown by a right-wing coup, which proclaimed a Khmer Republic under the rule of general Lon Nol. Khmer Rouge communist guerrillas, allied with their Vietnamese counterparts, stepped up their military campaign against the government. In 1975, they took control. The real power behind the Khmer Rouge was the new prime minister, Pol Pot, who had manufactured a unique ideology based on elements of Maoist thought and Medieval quasi-mysticism, rooted in the history of the Angkor state. The practical effect was the establishment of ‘Year Zero’ (in 1975), under which Cambodia was to be converted into a pure communist state centred on basic agricultural production. Currency was abolished, intellectuals purged, churches and temples destroyed and thousands of urban dwellers driven into the countryside for ‘re-education’ and primitive agricultural labour. The outcome was a regime of horrific brutality which was responsible for another of the 20th century’s genocides: it is estimated that one-third of the population died during the four years of Khmer Rouge rule. At the end of 1978, the Vietnamese army – provoked by repeated Khmer attacks on their territory and sickened by the regime’s excesses – invaded Cambodia and overthrew the Khmers. A new constitution was declared in 1981 and, by 1982, Phnom Penh, a ghost city under the Khmer Rouge, was re-populated by the return of up to 600,000 inhabitants from the countryside. The Vietnamese-controlled Government experienced continuing armed opposition from an unlikely coalition of supporters of Prince Sihanouk, the KPNLF (Khmer Peoples’ National Liberation Front) and the Khmer Rouge, of which the latter were backed by China and were by far the most powerful. The coalition as a whole was supported by the West and collectively recognised as the legitimate government of Cambodia by the United Nations. Cambodia drifted in a state of penury and semi-chaos throughout the 1980s, until a UN-led effort began to stabilise the country. In 1991, a political settlement was reached, which included all parties except the now much diminished Khmer Rouge. Under the terms of the 1991 settlement, the UN provided a 16,000-strong peace-keeping force and extensive administrative support (under the rubric of the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia, UNTAC). The operation was widely perceived as a success, and sufficient political stability was created to allow a general election in 1993. This produced a narrow victory for FUNCINPEC, the party led by Prince Sihanouk, who had returned to the country from exile to assume the presidency, as well as the premiership, and command of the armed forces. FUNCINPEC entered into a government of national unity with its main opponent, the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) – the political descendant of the government which took over following the Vietnamese intervention in 1978 – led by Hun Sen. Sihanouk’s nephew, Prince Ranariddh and Hun Sen were appointed Deputy Premiers under the leadership of Sihanouk. The two parties squabbled continuously over policy, development, aid, commercial contracts, and dealing with the Khmer Rouge. Finally, in July 1997, Hun Sen and the CPP formed a government without FUNCINPEC; Hun Sen’s actions were widely interpreted as a coup d’état and recognition withdrawn from the Government by most major western states. International aid was suspended and Cambodia’s application to join ASEAN – economically vital in the longer term – was postponed indefinitely. However, ASEAN relented the following year and Cambodia is now a full member of the organisation. The following year, the CPP gained a comfortable majority at national assembly elections. By the turn of the millennium – after 30 years of war, genocide and chaos – Cambodia finally had a government which enjoyed undisputed international recognition and, following the demise of the Khmer Rouge, no armed opposition (bar the small and insignificant US-based ‘Cambodian Freedom Fighters’). Government: Legislative power belongs to the 120-member National Assembly which is popularly elected for a term of five years. Executive power is vested in the Cabinet of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. The King holds the post of Head of State. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.