Cambodia’s Sihanouk abdicates

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – King Norodom Sihanouk, known as much for his colorful personality as his controversial statesmanship, has been synonymous with Cambodia’s modern history for six decades. His era drew to an apparent close Thursday, when he stunned the country by announcing his abdication.

In a letter sent from China, where he has often sought medical treatment in recent years, the monarch, 82, cited a new and serious stomach ailment and asked “all compatriots to please allow me to retire.”

Sihanouk entered public life when he was installed as king by the French in 1941, when Cambodia was one of their Indochinese colonies.

However, Sihanouk turned on the French and led a successful crusade for independence, achieved in 1953.

Two years later, Sihanouk stepped down from the throne.

Sihanouk reascended the throne in 1993, becoming a constitutional monarch with little real power but a fair amount of influence.