UN officials from the Khmer Rouge tribunal said Tuesday they will not to meet former king Norodom Sihanouk at the Royal Palace next week, citing his open invitation as unofficial.
In a cautious response to VOA Khmer's e-mailed questions, tribunal international spokesman Peter Foster said he would not respond to the Sihanouk's invitation, which was posted on the former monarch's Web site last week.
Sihanouk post-scripted the invitation with a warning that this would be the only chance ahead of Khmer Rouge trials to meet with him.
Parliament has bestowed honorary king status to Sihanouk, which government officials say grants him immunity against the tribunal.
Legal experts, however, say the honorary status does not protect the king constitutionally.