Cambodia’s newly-selected king, Norodom Sihamoni, returned from China today to take up the throne after his father, outgoing monarch Norodom Sihanouk, abdicated earlier this month because of poor health.

The UN chief congratulated Cambodia’s incoming king today, a day after the former ballet dancer was chosen to succeed his ailing father to secure the country’s ancient monarchy for another generation.

CAMBODIA’S King Norodom Sihanouk declared yesterday that his son, Prince Norodom Sihamoni, is ready to accept the crown to resolve a political crisis triggered last week when the 81-year-old monarch announced he would abdicate.

Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihanouk declared today that his son, Prince Norodom Sihamoni, is ready to accept the crown to resolve a political crisis triggered last week when the 81-year-old monarch announced he would abdicate.

Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihanouk has abdicated because of poor health and asked the country to begin a search for a successor, the head of the National Assembly said today.