Protest: Day 3: A Monk ...

On Day 3, a monk from Kompong Thom tempted to burn himself, but was prevented by the security. He wanted to send a message to PM Hun Sen.
     Also from 9:00AM CNRP President Sam Rainsy and his team met again to try to find a solution to the deadlock. No formal resolution was issued, each party would like to consult with their leadership first.
    Day 3 of the protest was ending in the afternoon of September 17, 2013.

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and opposition leader Sam Rainsy have moved closer to an agreement to break through political stalemate over the contested July 28 election results, spokesmen said.

"We have moved closer to each other on the current political issues and reforms to key national institutions," Yim Sovann, spokesman for the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), said in a joint press briefing after a three-hour meeting between the two leaders. "We are narrowing the gap of differences towards a common ground. However, we need more talks. Hopefully, both sides will be able to find a common ground before the opening session of the parliament on Sept. 23," he said.

Prak Sokhonn, minister attached to Prime Minister Hun Sen, said both sides had agreed on most of the issues, but they still need more time to discuss internally in their respective parties.

"Today, there is no joint statement because we have not totally agreed with all issues," he said in the press briefing. "Both sides will meet again when they find any formula to reduce the gap of differences relevant to the issues."

He said the leaders of the two parties have showed more mutual understanding and are committed to seeking a solution for the whole nation.

On Monday, the two political rivals had spent nearly five hours to negotiate on the current political impasse and agreed on three points: no more clashes between police and protestors, creating a mechanism to reform the National Election Committee and more meetings with officials at various levels to resolve national issues.

However, the two leaders did not agree over the opposition's request for an independent committee to look into the contested election results that handed 68 parliamentary seats to the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Hun Sen and 55 seats to the CNRP of Sam Rainsy.

The CNRP did not recognize the outcomes, claiming that its party should win 63 seats, with the CPP getting 60 seats if alleged irregularities during the poll were fairly investigated.

It launched a three-day mass protest on Sunday at the capital' s Freedom Park and Sam Rainsy led thousands of protesters to march through the city.

Two clashes between police and protesters broke out on Sunday during the protest. In the clashes, the police had fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters.

A protester was shot dead and several wounded in one accident, and a police officer was injured on his head by a stone thrown by protesters in another.

Yim Sovann said the party would end its three-day mass protest this Tuesday afternoon.

King Norodom Sihamoni on Saturday invited all the 123 elected lawmakers for the opening session of the new parliament on Sept. 23.

Yim Sovann said the CNRP has not decided yet if the party's lawmakers would attend the opening session of the new parliament without an independent poll probe committee.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has said that his party has enough lawmakers to override any opposition parliamentary boycott and form a new government.

Hun Sen, 61, will extend his power for further five years through the election victory.