King Norodom Sihanouk issued two statements in French-with a third response on the

way-to combat what he called "untruths" about his relationship with his

son, Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

The statements came in the wake of a new biography on Ranariddh called Warrior Prince

written by Harish Mehta.

Some excerpts from the two-page statements: "It is totally unfair to accuse

me of making a 'deal' (during the 1990s) to put Prince Ranariddh and Funcinpec at

a disadvantage [while] helping CPP."

"It is absolutely false to say that I 'envied' Ranariddh and I prevented my

mother from giving enough money to Ranariddh while he was studying in France."

"And I have never accused Prince Ranariddh of being a playboy. It was I, during

my youth, who was the playboy. I would never be indecent enough to attribute a fault,

which is mine, to one of my sons (or someone else)."

"At no moment did I ever say to Princess Marie Ranariddh: 'You have to be very

careful about my son Ranariddh because he used to change his girlfriends every holyday

[sic]."

"Samdech Ranariddh said I didn't support him during the Lon Nol regime and he

was subjected to being badly treated...If, when I was in Peking, I didn't make declarations

supporting, at that time period, my children, it was [because] I didn't want to draw

attention to them and [then] they would have to face the wrath of the 'republicans'."

"In 1993, Funcinpec was victorious in the legislative elections and they amply

used my name and my popularity with the people of the country."