SGS, the Société Général de Surveillance, has signed

a contract with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to oversee the

government's reporting and monitoring of forest crime, the group said.

The contract, which began on December 1 and is for three years but subject to annual

renewal, requires SGS to "assess the completeness, accuracy and credibility

of the [government's] reporting on the suppression and investigation of forest crime.

SGS replaces Global Witness, which was dismissed by the government, apparently for

overzealous reporting.

The contract with SGS opens the way for the World Bank to give Cambodia a $15 million

loan, but the Alliance of Democrats has requested the World Bank not to recognise

the appointment of SGS by what the Alliance says is only a caretaker government.