Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's long-ruling party has defied an opposition boycott of parliament, pushing ahead with the formation of a government despite mass protests over his disputed election win.
Anti-riot police were deployed near the National Assembly on Monday, following weeks of political turmoil that has at times descended into violence in one of the biggest challenges to Hun Sen's nearly three decades in power.
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) refused to take its seats for the opening session of the lower house, warning that the kingdom was sliding towards "dictatorship".
Despite the boycott, King Norodom Sihamoni asked Hun Sen to form a new government, which must be approved by a majority of the newly elected politicians in a vote expected to take place on Tuesday.
The CNRP, which is demanding an independent investigation into the contested July elections, decried what it described as a "one-party parliament".
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"It totally contradicts the principle of democracy, freedom and multi-party pluralism and is bringing Cambodia toward dictatorship again," it warned.
According to official results of the July polls, the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won 68 seats against 55 for the CNRP.
The opposition has rejected the tally, alleging widespread vote irregularities.
Rights activists also accused dozens of police and thugs in civilian clothing of launching a violent crackdown on a peaceful vigil at a pagoda in the capital late on Sunday using electric batons and slingshots.
Nine demonstrators as well as several foreign and local journalists were injured, witnesses said.
Hun Sen, who suffered his worst poll result in 15 years in July, last week agreed to find a peaceful solution to the dispute in talks with his main rival Sam Rainsy, but he has ruled out an independent probe.
