Cambodian leader slams ASEAN

The Cambodian leader, Hun Sen, has strongly criticised members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations, accusing them of meddling in his country's internal affairs.

He said in a speech to a seminar on good governance in Phnom Penh that ASEAN countries attempting to dictate policy to Cambodia had enough problems at home -- and should set their own affairs in order before interfering in another country.

Cambodia's membership of ASEAN was put on hold after fighting last July which led to Hun Sen ousting from power his fellow co-premier, Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

Hun Sen said the Indonesian, Philippine and Thai foreign ministers were due in Cambodia to mediate, but he had no plans to meet them.) (He particularly criticised the Indonesian minister, Ali Alatas, whom he accused of speaking so much about Cambodian affairs that he could have been Cambodian foreign minister.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service