PHNOM PENH, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Thursday appointed one of his deputies, Ben Chhin, as the acting minister in charge of the Council of Ministers after the incumbent Sok An passed away.
"Deputy Prime Ministers, Senior Ministers, Ministers at all ministries, heads of all institutions, and His Excellency Ben Chhin must comply with this decision from the day of signature," the prime minister wrote in the appointment letter.
Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, minister in charge of the Council of Ministers, died on Wednesday evening at the age of 66 due to illness, the Cambodian government said in a statement.
Sok An, one of the country's most powerful politicians, was a standing committee member of the ruling Cambodian People's Party.
In the government, he had served as the minister in charge of the Council of Ministers since 1998; and he was promoted to the rank of a deputy prime minister in 2004.
Sok An's body was flown to Phnom Penh early Thursday morning. According to the schedule, his body will be cremated on March 19 at the Wat Botum park, just south of the Royal Palace.
