The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), in cooperation with a US military contractor,

completed the destruction of the country's entire inventory of SA-3 ground-to-air

defense missiles - 33 in all - on November 18.

The public ceremony was held at RCAF Armor Center in Kampong Speu.

Meas Sophea, Deputy Commander in Chief of the RCAF and head of the Cambodian army,

presided over the ceremony. He said Cambodia was committed to keeping weapons out

of the hands of terrorists.

The program was funded by a grant of roughly $900,000 from the US State Department.

US Ambassador Joseph A Mussomeli called the move "an important precedent."