Cambodia cremates former King Sihanouk

The body of Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk has been cremated in the capital, Phnom Penh.

Huge crowds gathered for the ceremony, which marked the final farewell for the man who was a prominent presence during decades of turmoil.

King Sihanouk died in Beijing in October at the age of 89. His embalmed body has been lying in state since then to allow people to pay their respects.

Foreign dignitaries from several nations were attending the ceremony.

But none of that was talked about among the crowds paying their last respects - they were simply mourning the loss of a giant personality, who has been one of the few constants in their tragic history.

"I don't have any words to express the sorrow and suffering I feel when knowing his body will soon disappear," Hin Mal, 79, told the Associated Press news agency.