FORMER King Norodom Sihanouk kept his promise to return before Khmer New Year yesterday as he arrived from Beijing with Queen Mother Sihanouk Monineath and King Norodom Sihamoni after receiving medical treatment in the Chinese capital since August. Sihanouk, his wife and son were given a red-carpet welcome by family members, Prime Minister Hun Sen,  Senate president Chea Sim,

National Assembly president Heng Samrin and other senior government officials when they arrived at Phnom Penh International airport. Sihanouk, who will turn 89 on Monday, placed his hands together and kissed them in a traditional greeting to well-wishers before getting into a car that took him to the royal palace. The former monarch’s doctors were said to have had “no problem” with his return to Cambodia.