Editing Norodom Ranariddh (section)

===Exile, return and 1998 elections===
The defeat of FUNCINPEC-aligned troops in the military clashes on 6 July 1997 amounted to the effective ouster of Ranariddh. On 9 July 1997, the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Cambodia)|Cambodian Foreign Ministry]] issued a [[white paper]] labelling Ranariddh a "criminal" and a "traitor", as well as accusing him of conspiring with the Khmer Rouge to destabilise the government.<ref>Peou (2000), p. 298</ref> Ranariddh travelled to the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia, where he met with [[Fidel Ramos]], [[Goh Chok Tong]] and [[Suharto]] to seek their help in his restoration.<ref>Peou (2000), p. 389</ref> During his absence, at a party meeting on 16 July 1997, Ung Huot was nominated by FUNCINPEC MPs loyal to Hun Sen to replace Ranariddh as First Prime Minister.<ref>{{cite web |author=Post Staff |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/asean-backs-hun-sen-digs |title=Asean backs off as Hun Sen digs in |date=25 July 1997 |access-date=2 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627030742/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/asean-backs-hun-sen-digs |archive-date=27 June 2015 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Huot was subsequently endorsed as First Prime Minister during a National Assembly sitting on 6 August 1997.<ref>Mehta (2013), p. 260</ref> A few days later, Sihanouk expressed his unhappiness over the clashes, and threatened to abdicate the throne and take over the premiership. Sihanouk also claimed that Ranariddh's ouster was unconstitutional, and initially refused to endorse Ung Huot's appointment,<ref>{{cite web |author=Post Staff |url=http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/11/cambodia/ |title=Cambodian King Sihanouk offers to abdicate – but still considers son's ouster illegal |date=21 August 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227102154/http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/11/cambodia/ |archive-date=27 February 2015 |access-date=2 February 2015 |work=CNN |url-status=dead }}</ref> but later relented when [[Association of Southeast Asian Nations]] (ASEAN) member states supported Ung Huot's appointment.<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 265</ref>

In September 1997, the UN secretary general, [[Kofi Annan]] met separately with Ranariddh and Hun Sen, to mediate the return of FUNCINPEC politicians and prepare for the [[1998 Cambodian general election]]s. The UN proposed that its representatives monitor the elections, to which both Ranariddh and Hun Sen agreed, but Hun Sen insisted that Ranariddh be prepared to face court charges, to which Ranariddh responded with a threat to boycott the election.<ref>{{cite web |author=Elizabeth Moorthy |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/fpec-wonders-wheres-party |title=F'pec wonders 'Where's the party?' |date=10 October 1997 |access-date=5 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627020949/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/fpec-wonders-wheres-party |archive-date=27 June 2015 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead }}</ref>

At O Smach, FUNCINPEC-aligned troops fought along with the Khmer Rouge forces against CPP-aligned troops<ref>{{cite web |author=Tom Mintier |url=http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/21/cambodia/ |title=Royalist troops hold on to Cambodian outpost–Khmer Rouge aids Ranariddh in battle |date=21 August 1997 |access-date=1 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205185102/http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9708/21/cambodia/ |archive-date=5 February 2015 |work=CNN |url-status=dead }}</ref> until February 1998, when a ceasefire brokered by the Japanese government came into effect.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Stew Magnuson |author2=Kimsan Chantara |name-list-style=amp |url=https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/govt-resistance-agree-to-cease-fire-86373/ |title=Gov't, Resistance Agree to Cease-fire |date=28 February 1998 |access-date=17 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130013142/https://www.cambodiadaily.com/archives/govt-resistance-agree-to-cease-fire-86373/ |archive-date=30 January 2016 |work=The Cambodia Daily |url-status=dead }}</ref> In March 1998, Ranariddh was convicted in absentia by a military court of illegally smuggling ammunitions in May 1997, and of colluding with the Khmer Rouge to cause instability in the country.<ref>Mehta (2013), p. 258</ref> He was sentenced to a total of 35 years' imprisonment,<ref name="Summers237">Summers (2003), p. 237</ref> but this was nullified by a pardon from Sihanouk.<ref>{{cite web|author=Robert Birsel|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1370&dat=19980324&id=8JYVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9goEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2138,2633403&hl=en|title=Pardon for Ranariddh revives peace hopes|page=15|date=24 March 1998|access-date=30 October 2015|work=Manila Standard}}</ref> Ranariddh returned to Cambodia at the end of March 1998 to lead FUNCINPEC's election campaign,<ref>Widyono (2008), p. 266</ref> which focused on pro-monarchical sentiments and anti-Vietnamese rhetoric.<ref>Kiernan and Hughes (2007), pp. 52 and 54</ref>

FUNCINPEC faced numerous obstacles, including lack of access to television and radio channels which had come under CPP's exclusive control following the 1997 clashes, and the difficulties of its supporters in getting to party rallies.<ref name="PPPost-17071998">{{cite web |author1=Samreth Sopha |author2=Elizabeth Moorthy |name-list-style=amp |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-relies-royalty-anti-vn-rhetoric |title=Funcinpec relies on royalty, anti-VN rhetoric |date=17 July 1998 |access-date=2 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702163536/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/funcinpec-relies-royalty-anti-vn-rhetoric |archive-date=2 July 2015 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the vote on 26 July 1998, FUNCINPEC polled 31.7 percent and secured 43 out of a total of 122 parliamentary seats. The CPP won the elections by polling 41.4 percent of all votes and securing 64 parliamentary seats. The [[Sam Rainsy Party]] (SRP), Rainsy's renamed KNP, was in third place with 14.3 percent of the vote and 15 parliamentary seats.<ref name="Widoyono267">Widyono (2008), pp. 267–68</ref>

Both Ranariddh and Rainsy protested against the election results, claiming that the CPP-led government had intimidated voters and tampered with ballot boxes.<ref>{{cite web |author=Post Staff |url=http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/nec-investigates-allegations-fraud |title=NEC investigates allegations of fraud |date=31 July 1998 |access-date=5 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121543/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/nec-investigates-allegations-fraud |archive-date=24 September 2015 |work=Phnom Penh Post |url-status=dead }}</ref> They filed petitions with the National Election Commission (NEC) and Constitutional Court; when these were rejected in August 1998,<ref>Peou (2000), pp. 327–28</ref> Ranariddh and Rainsy organised street protests to demand that Hun Sen relinquish power. The government responded on 7 September 1998, by banning street protests and cracking down on participants.<ref>Peou (2000), pp. 319–20</ref> At this point Sihanouk intervened, and arranged a summit meeting on 24 September 1998 in Siem Reap. He summoned Hun Sen, Ranariddh and Rainsy for discussions aimed at ending the political impasse.<ref>Mehta (2001), p. 130</ref>

On the day of the summit meeting, a [[RPG-2|B40]] rocket was fired from an [[RPG-2]] rocket launcher at the direction of Hun Sen's motorcade, who was travelling en route to Siem Reap. The rocket missed the motorcade, and Hun Sen escaped unhurt. The police accused FUNCINPEC and SRP leaders of plotting the attack, with Rainsy as its ringleader.<ref>Mehta (2013), p. 291</ref> Both Ranariddh and Rainsy denied any involvement, but fled to Bangkok the following day, fearing government crackdowns on their parties.<ref name="Mehta131">Mehta (2001), p. 131</ref>