Grenade Attack Kills 10, Injures 101 At Political Rally

A grenade attack at a political rally Sunday killed 10 people and wounded 101 others, including Cambodia’s leading opposition politician and an American, police and witnesses said.

Assailants in a passing car threw grenades as opposition leader Sam Rainsy led some 200 members of his Khmer Nation Party in a rally in front of the National Assembly, police said.

Rainsy was slightly injured in the leg from shrapnel. A bodyguard who threw himself on the political leader to shield him was ripped apart from the blasts and killed. Rainsy was driven to safety by aides.

Rainsy appeared at a news conference a short time later, his clothes soaked in blood. He blamed the attack on “terrorists” from the formerly communist Cambodian People’s Party, led by his rival, Second Prime Minister Hun Sen.

“Hun Sen … should be sentenced and arrested,” Rainsy said. “This is a terrible setback for the democratic process in Cambodia. It bodes ill for the national elections.”

Khieu Kanharith, the secretary of state for information, said at least 10 people were killed and 101 wounded, including a U.S. citizen, Ron Abney of the International Republican Institute, a democracy advisory group.

Abney, 55, of Cochran, Ga., was struck in the groin by shrapnel and was expected to be evacuated to Bangkok, Thailand, for medical treatment. It was not immediately known if other foreigners were hurt.

“This is a clear indication that the situation is deteriorating dramatically in Cambodia,” Rainsy said.