Cambodia National Rescue Party deputy president Kem Sokha used the opposition’s attendance at a memorial service for the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk yesterday to call for an end to the country's political deadlock by July 28.

“The Cambodia National Rescue Party wants to end the political deadlock soon, before the first anniversary [of last July's election],” he said during the event at Independence Monument in Phnom Penh.

The opposition has refused to accept the result of the election by declining to take its seats in parliament. The boycott is ongoing.

The message, however, received a sceptical response from Chheang Vun, a ruling Cambodian People’s Party lawmaker and member of the CPP negotiation team.

Vun said that the CPP had been open to resolving the dispute for months and blamed the opposition for rejecting its proposal.