Polls open in Cambodian election

His Cambodian People's Party holds 73 assembly seats out of 123, and analysts say his majority is likely to increase.

The prime minister, who has ruled since 1985, has gained huge approval for taking a tough stance in an ongoing dispute with neighbouring Thailand.

The countries are arguing over land surrounding an ancient monument.

Both nations have massed troops near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple - which belongs to Cambodia.

Each claims the land surrounding the temple, and the dispute has raised nationalist fervour in Bangkok and Phnom Penh.

"People are more focused on the border issue at Preah Vihear temple than on the election," Hang Puthea, who heads an election-monitoring body, told AFP news agency.

“The near-monopoly on broadcast media for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party’s (CPP), bias within the electoral apparatus, and harassment, intimidation, and coerced defections of opposition party members undermines the credibility of the elections,” it said.