Cambodia's throne council elected Prince Norodom Sihamoni, 51, as the country's new king in October 2004, succeeding his father, Norodom Sihanouk, who had stepped down from the throne after more than six decades.
Sihamoni spent much of his adult life in Europe, working as a classical dance instructor and choreographer in Paris and serving as Cambodia's ambassador to UNESCO. He resigned that post shortly before his selection, prompting widespread speculation that he would be named heir. Prime Minister Hun Sen, long at odds with the elder Sihanouk, voiced support for the prince.
His half-brother, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, said Sihanouk had initially offered the throne to him, but he declined and encouraged Sihamoni to accept the largely ceremonial position. Sihamoni himself reportedly required persuading before agreeing.
During the Khmer Rouge years (1975-79), Sihamoni was kept under a form of palace confinement while as many as two million Cambodians perished. He later studied in Prague and North Korea before settling in Paris in 1981.
A coronation was planned for 29 October, with Sihamoni and his father expected to travel from Beijing, where the former king had been residing, to attend.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in October 2004, in its own words.