The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is leading in the National Assembly election and people widely believe that incumbent Prime Minister Hun Sen would win another five years in power.

Early results show that CPP won a majority of votes in 23 out of 24 constituencies, the state run TVK station reported Monday.

It is estimated that the CPP took 52 percent of the overall vote, while the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) took 25 percent and the royalist FUNCINPEC party 23 percent.

However, the results are incomplete and the official figure will be announced by the National Election Committee.

It was learned that the SRP is greatly leading in capital PhnomPenh which would garner the party six seats out of the 12 available in capital, while the CPP would have four and the third lead FUNCINPEC party, led by Prince Norodom Ranariddh, getting two.

While in Pailin, the former stronghold of the Democratic Kampuchea (DK) in northwestern of the country, the CPP was headed for victory over the SRP, which won the seat in 1998 elections.

Vote counting began in Cambodia on 8:00 a.m. Monday as people widely believe that Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party would win another five years in power.

The SRP appears to have made gains in some constituencies at the expense of the FUNCINPEC party, but not to the detriment of the CPP.

The CPP, FUNCINPEC and SRP are three major contenders for political power among 23 political parties. Under Cambodia's constitution, for a party to form a government, it needs two-third majority in the National Assembly, or 82 seats.

If no party wins the required quorum, a coalition government will be formed, with the largest party naming the prime minister.

In 1998, the CPP won 64 seats, FUNCINPEC 43, and the SRP 15, in the election based on proportional representation.

FUNCINPEC, led by Prince Norodom Ranariddh, had formed a coalition with the CPP in the National Assembly in 1998.

According to NEC, about 83 percent of 6.3 million eligible voters turned out to cast on Sunday, low than previous two elections' 93 percent turnout in 1993 and 1998.

Prime Minister Hun Sen Sunday appealed to the nation to keep clam and maintain social order during the vote counting. He also urged all political parties to accept poll results of election.

(Xinhua News Agency  July 29, 2003)