Ousted Cambodia Leader Pardoned, Free to Return

King Norodom Sihanouk pardoned his son Saturday, clearing the way for Prince Norodom Ranariddh to return home to run in new elections.

Sihanouk’s move came after an about-face by strongman Hun Sen.

The king had earlier said he would not grant a pardon to his son because he had not received written permission from Hun Sen, the co-premier who ousted Ranariddh in a July coup. Hours after that announcement, Hun Sen formally requested a pardon for the prince.

The pardon for Ranariddh, who is in Bangkok, Thailand, is a crucial step in a Japanese-sponsored peace plan aimed at ending fighting in Cambodia and will allow the prince to take part in July elections.

Under the peace plan, the deposed co-premier was tried in absentia in military courts on charges of weapons smuggling and conspiring with outlawed Khmer Rouge guerrillas to launch his own coup.