Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who was removed as head of the co-ruling Funcinpec Party in October, has agreed to form an alliance with Prince Sisowath Thomico and campaign as a single party for the 2008 general election, the Cambodian Daily reported on Tuesday.

The two princes met from Thursday to Saturday in Malaysia and agreed to join forces ahead of the election, the paper quoted Ok Socheat, public affairs adviser to Ranariddh, as saying.

"Prince Sisowath Thomico agreed to allow Pricne Ranariddh to be the alliance's president," he said.

It has not been decided which party - Thomico's newly launched Sangkum Jantiniyum Front Party (SJF) or the Norodom Ranariddh Party - would carry the alliance, he added.

"We will do everything possible to succeed in forming a new party," said Socheat.

Thomico could not be reached for comments on Monday.

Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith told reporters that Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) would welcome the new alliance and not consider it an election threat.

Funcinpec spokesman Nouv Sovathero also said that SJF would not present any challenge for the current co-ruling of the government by CPP and Funcinpec.

However, Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, told reporters that the alliance would prove beneficial as 10 percent of the kingdom's five million possible voters are still undecided.

"Prince Norodom Ranariddh has experience and resources in leading a political party," which would be a boost for Thomico to realize his fledging political ambitions, he added.

Cambodia is to hold its fourth democratic general election in 2008. Currently, the CPP plays a dominating role in the government. It is also strong in the National Assembly, the top legislative body, as it has the majority of seats.

Source: Xinhua