Cambodia's king has abdicated: national assembly president

PHNOM PENH (AFP) - Cambodia's King Norodom Sihanouk, who is in Beijing, has abdicated, his son and national assembly president Prince Norodom Ranariddh told reporters.
"According to a royal message that we have received and read to the national assembly, the king has abdicated," Ranariddh said.
"The king said Chea Sim (the Senate president) will be the acting head of state and he has written that from now on, Norodom Sihanouk is retired."
The king, 81, had repeatedly threatened to abdicate after being sidelined during a year-long political crisis in the kingdom.