To mark International Women's Day on March 8, Prime Minister Hun Sen called for

more women in senior government and administration positions.

He said the

number of women candidates for the commune council elections had increased from

13 percent in 2002, to more than 20 percent in 2007.

But he said women

must use their own vote to get more women into office.

"The fact that

the number [of women] is small in the administration of public work is because

women do not give enough support to women," he told local

newspapers.

Officials said the opposition Sam Rainsy Party had 96 women

candidates in the coming council elections, while the ruling Cambodian People's

Party has 70.