Controversial Egyptian businessman Mohamed Fayed met with Prime Minister Hun Sen

and several senior Government officials during a two hour visit to Cambodia on Tuesday

March 21.

Fayed was accompanied by the wife of former Thai Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh

and a number of Thai business people.

Government spokesman, Khieu Kannarith, said that the delegation was briefed on a

number of issues including security, taxation and business opportunities.

He said the trip was an exploratory one and he did not know of any particular investment

the participants were considering.

Fayed, who is brother-in-law of the world's largest private arms dealer, Adnan Khashoggi,

owns London's exclusive Harrods department store. However he is best known for his

son Dodi's relationship with England's Princess Diana. Both were killed in a car

crash in Paris in 1997.

The Khmer-language Press has speculated that the delegation was in Cambodia to elicit

support for a financial advisor to Chavalit who was arrested in Britain for trying

to buy oil from Iraq in contravention of international sanctions.

Kannarith dismissed the suggestions, saying that the Cambodia was fully aware that

it was illegal to buy oil from Iraq.