Cambodia hunts for 3 for offensive Facebook image of King

The Cambodian police are looking for three men allegedly involved in posting on Facebook a photoshopped image of King Norodom Sihamoni into a gay pornographic scene, a government spokesman said on Monday.

The offensive doctored image was posted on a Facebook account since December 25, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We have identified three suspects in the case -- two living in Cambodia and one believed to be living in Thailand," Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said.

Cambodia is considering to ask the Thai authorities for help, he said.

"We have to bring them to justice because they are insulting the King, who represents the whole nation," he said.

Under the country's constitution, the King shall be "inviolable". However, the country has no law which states a punishment on the criticism of the King.

Sihamoni, 63, ascended the throne on October 29, 2004, after his father the late King Norodom Sihanouk abdicated due to health problems.

The monarch is unmarried and has no children.

--IANS

py/vt