Leaders of CPP and CNRP shake hands (Photo: Phnom Penh Post)

(VOVworld) – Newly-elected parliamentarians of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on Saturday began arriving in Siem Reap, 350km west of Phnom Penh. They are scheduled to meet in Angkor Wat on Sunday, one day before the first session of the new parliament which will be convened by King Norodom Sihamoni. On Saturday, supporters of the opposition party submitted to the Cambodian Palace a petition with 263,561 signatures, demanding the King to postpone the first session of the new parliament. The petition also voiced the support for the opposition MPs’ boycott of the session. Cambodia’s opposition leader Sam Rainsy on Friday asked the King to delay the session, saying his CNRP would not attend the session because of disagreement between CNRP and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). However, annalists in Phnom Penh say the first session of the 5^th parliament will take place on Monday with the participation of 68 new MPs no matter CNRP parliamentarians will attend or not.