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Rasmei Kampuchea Daily

Publication Date : 31-01-2013

Millions of Cambodians are expected to converge on the streets of the capital on Friday for the second and final round of mourning for the late King Father.

Norodom Sihanouk died of a heart attack in Beijing on October 15 at the age of 89.

The former king is revered by Cambodians as the father of independence, national unity and development. He is also the Cambodian king to hold the greatest titles.

The following is a brief summary of his life:

1922: Born to King Norodom Suramarit and Queen Sisowath Kossamak on October 31

1941: Becomes king on May at the age of 18

1953: Gains independence from France on November 9 at which point the former protectorate becomes the Kingdom of Cambodia

1955: Abdicates in favor of his father on March 2 to pursue a political career. Becomes prime minister.

1960: Becomes head of state after King Suramarit dies on April 3

1965: Breaks off relations with the US

1970: Overthrown on March 18 in coup by Prime Minister Lon Nol who proclaims the Khmer Republic. Sihanouk goes into exile in China

1991: Becomes head of the Supreme National Council of the State of Cambodia, a UN transitional authority comprising all four Cambodian factions set up under the Paris Peace Agreements signed on October 23.

1993: Becomes king again with the country renamed as the Kingdom of Cambodia following UN-sponsored elections on July 27 leading to the formation of a coalition government between the royalist Funcinpec and the Cambodian People's Party

2004: Abdicates, succeeded by son Norodom Sihamoni