Prince Ranariddh: fled to escape coup

Scores of supporters of the First Prime Minister, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, were executed when the Prince was forcibly removed by co-premier Hun Sen after battles between their rival forces in the capital Phnom Penh.

In a statement Amnesty said that the elections due to take place on July 26, in which Prince Ranariddh is to take part, will not wipe the slate clean.

"It's a disgrace that one year has passed, and yet no one has been held to account for these crimes," it said.

"Scores of people were killed, hundreds were detained, dozens were tortured. General elections will not make these facts go away."

Hun Sen: let Prince Ranariddh return

Hun Sen's regime has promised to investigate the human rights abuses but United Nations officials have criticised it for failing to take any real action.

Prince Ranariddh's Funcinpec party won the most seats in Cambodia's last election in 1993, but he was pressured into accepting a power-sharing coalition with Hun Sen amid fears of renewed conflict.

The prince left Cambodia the day before last year's coup after receiving a tip-off.