The Cambodia National Rescue Party held a ceremony yesterday to mark the anniversary of the deadly grenade attack that killed 16 people and injured hundreds more at an opposition rally in 1997.

Speaking to supporters via video link from France, opposition leader Sam Rainsy claimed that French courts had reopened an investigation into the case as more information had recently come to light.

"We will start to see the light of justice," he said.

Although the Cambodian courts are still technically investigating the case, no arrests have ever been made in connection to the attack, which was widely believed to have been carried out by supporters of then Co-Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan yesterday played down Rainsy’s claims of a French investigation, saying it was in the jurisdiction of Cambodian courts.