The Royal Cabinet of King Father Norodom Sihanouk yesterday rejected opposition leader Sam Rainsy’s assertion that he had been invited by the King to attend his recent 90th- birthday celebrations, but a Sam Rainsy Party spokesman stood by the claim.

Prince Sisowath Thomico, adviser to King Norodom Sihamoni and personal secretary of King Father Norodom Sihanouk, told the Post the King Father had not invited the SRP leader to attend his birthday, saying that the Royal Palace had not even been involved in the planning.

“The Royal Palace had not issued invitations to anyone. His Excellency Sam Rainsy was not invited; other officials also were not invited because [the King’s birthday] was org-anised by the royal government,” Prince Thomico said, adding that he could not say where the letter came from or whether it had been falsified.

But SRP spokesman Yim Sovann insisted the invitation in question was the same as those received by other parliamentarians and that the Royal Cabinet’s subsequent claim came as the result of political pressure.

Prince Sisowath Thomico rejected that, saying there had been no pressure on the King Father’s Royal Cabinet and that he himself had never done anything because of pressure or threats.