The Norodom Ranariddh Party will present a petition to the government requesting

a royal pardon for party leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh. Prince Ranariddh was

sentenced in absentia to 18 months in prison plus $150,000 in compensation on

March 13 for allegedly pocketing funds during the sale of the former Funcinpec

headquarters while serving as the party's president. A pardon would clear the

way for the prince's return to take part in the 2008 national election.

Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith told local media

that the number of people thumb-printing the petition did not outweigh the

importance of the verdict against him.