Malaysia detains Cambodian opposition leader Mu Sochua

Mu Sochua, Deputy President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), reacts as she talks to journalists after a press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Malaysia has detained the deputy leader of Cambodia’s banned opposition party, Mu Sochua, an official said on Thursday, after Phnom Penh sought her arrest on grounds that she and other self-exiled opposition were plotting a coup in trying to return home.

The detention came as Sam Rainsy, the founder of the opposition party, prepared to fly from Paris to Bangkok, vowing to return to Cambodia on Saturday to lead demonstrations against the one-party rule of longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen.