CNN - Cambodian coup regime hunts down opponents

Royals allowed to flee as airport reopens

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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (CNN) -- For the second time this week, a prominent ally of ousted Cambodian co-premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh has turned up dead under mysterious circumstances. Other opponents of coup leader Hun Sen were in flight or in hiding.

Hundreds of people from many nationalities have been evacuated from Cambodia since Hun Sen -- who held the title of second prime minister -- ousted First Prime Minister Ranariddh on Sunday after a weekend of heavy fighting in Phnom Penh between soldiers loyal to the co-leaders.

A pause in fighting in the capital allowed a resumption of some commercial flights.

Among those who fled on Wednesday were senior officials from Ranariddh's royalist party, cabinet officials and members of Cambodia's royal family, including Ranariddh's sister, Princess Bopha Devi, and his son, Prince Norodom Chakravuth.

Rumors persisted that Ranariddh's forces were re-grouping in the countryside for a counter-offensive against Hun Sen's troops now controlling the capital.

Information was unclear surrounding the death of Chau Sambath, who worked in intelligence for Ranariddh and had been labeled a "terrorist" by Hun Sen.

Sambath was one of four prominent Ranariddh supporters targeted for arrest by the country's new regime, which said Sambath committed suicide. Other reports, however, said he was shot and killed trying to escape arrest.

On Tuesday, coup leaders revealed the death of Ho Sok, a high ranking official in the Cambodian government and Ranariddh supporter.

Although Hun Sen's people denied involvement in the death, a reliable source told CNN on Wednesday that Ho Sok was shot at least three times by executors loyal to the coup leader.

The other two on Hun Sen's arrest list are Ranariddh's top military commander, Nhek Bunchhay, and senior security adviser Serey Kosal.

A door-to-door search for other dissidents also was under way.

The London-based human-rights group Amnesty International urged international embassies to offer asylum to Ranariddh supporters and said at least 50 were in hiding or needed protection.

The fate of 13 people detained in Battambang province and 22 in Prey Veng was unknown, Amnesty said.

According to preliminary reports, 58 people died and almost 200 were wounded -- mostly civilians -- in the weekend fighting in Phnom Penh.

Ranariddh, who fled to France before the violence erupted, said he was going to the United States on Wednesday to appeal for help in reversing the coup. He said he would speak to the U.N. Security Council and later would meet top U.S. officials.

A State Department official confirmed U.S. officials would meet the prince, as an elected leader of his country, but was unable to say when.

The Clinton administration on Tuesday condemned Hun Sen for using force to oust his rival.

He and Ranariddh had shared power as co-heads of a fractured and unwieldy coalition government formed after U.N.-run elections in 1993.

Reporter John Raedler and Reuters contributed to this report.

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