*CAMBODIA SHOCKED BY DISRESPECTFUL US AID CUT*

*Cambodia 'shocked' by 'disrespectful' US aid cut, says democracy intact.*

PHNOM PENH :

Cambodia said last Wednesday it was saddened and shocked by a  ''disrespectful'' US decision to rein back aid programmes because of-  perceived  democratic setbacks and defended its record on democracy.

The  White House   said last Tuesday it was suspending or curtailing several Treasury, USAID and military assistance programmes that-
support Cambodia's military, taxation department and local authorities  -all of which shared blame for recent instability.

A Cambodian court on Tuesday ordered the seizure of the headquarters of the main opposition party, pending the payment of damages to-

 Prime Minister Hun Sen, the latest blow to the dissolved opposition opposition Cambodia National Party.

Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for more than 30 years, has forced the closure of an English-Language newspaper and jailed government critics, including opposition leader Kem Sokha, whom-

He has accused of conspiring with the United States to overthrow him.

Rights groups and  Western nations have decided the crackdown on the opposition ahead of a general election set for  July 29.

[Agencies].