Cambodia orders staff at American NGO to leave

Cambodia closed a prominent US NGO and ordered its foreign staff to leave the country yesterday, the latest salvo by Hun Sen, the prime minister, against perceived critics before a general election next year.

In a statement, the ministry of foreign affairs said foreign employees of the National Democratic Institute have seven days to leave after the group allegedly failed to formally register or pay correct taxes.

Analysts say the cascade of cases is straight from the political playbook of Hun Sen in the run-up to elections.