The BBC's Caroline Gluck says the editor has been attacked before

An unidentified gunman shot Thong Uy Pant, 55, twice in the shoulder from close range in the capital Phnom Penh, while he was praying.

His newspaper, Koh Santepheap or Island of Peace, backs the Cambodian People's Party and Prime Minister Hun Sen, who ousted his co-prime minister, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, in a coup last July.

International concern

There have been international expressions of concern over possible political intimidation and violence in the run-up to next month's elections in Cambodia.

The League of Cambodian Journalists said it believed the attack may have been carried out by "terrorists" intent on creating problems before the elections in an attempt to delay them.

The Cambodian Information Minister, Ieng Mouly, said he was saddened to hear of the attack and called on the authorities to investigate the incident seriously.

Thong Uy Phang and one of his bodyguards are currently recovering from gunshot wounds in hospital.

Latest in 'string of attacks'

The BBC correspondent in Phnom Penh says the attack represents the latest in a string of physical attacks against local journalists.

But previous attacks against journalists have largely targeted those who run opposition newspapers. None of their perpetrators have ever been arrested or brought to justice, even though some journalists have been killed.