Unidentified gunman fires at Cambodian opposition party office

An unidentified gunman fired a shot at a main office of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in Phnom Penh early Saturday, and no injury has been reported. "The bullet broke through the glass window and damaged a chair in the office," said the party's statement on Saturday. "The party strongly condemns this action that aims to intimidate and cause instability and turbulence during the election campaigning and on the Election Day." The office was closed at night when the incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. Police were called to investigate the shooting on Saturday morning. The shooting came just a day after the return of the party's exiled leader Sam Rainsy who received an exuberant welcome by supporters ahead of the July 28 parliamentary polls. Sam Rainy returned to Cambodia on Friday after spending nearly four years abroad in self-imposed exile to avoid an 11-year prison sentence on charges of disinformation and destruction of public property. CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann said at least 40,000 supporters rallied to greet his return, causing traffic jam on the road in front of the airport for hours. Sam Rainsy's return came after Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia, granted him a royal pardon on July 12 at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen on the grounds of national unification and reconciliation. Upon his arrival, Sam Rainsy knelt down to kiss the ground at the airport complex before riding a pick-up vehicle. "I am very excited, I am very happy to return to homeland to see all of you," said Sam Rainsy, speaking briefly to a huge crowd of supporters in front of the airport. "I come back to rescue the nation with all of you," he said. Eight parties will contest in the upcoming elections with about 9.67 million eligible voters. Two main parties are the ruling Cambodian People's Party led longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy's party. In the last elections in July 2008, Hun Sen's party won 90 seats out of the 123 seats in the National Assembly, while the opposition group gained a total of 29 seats.