PHNOM PENH: Amendments to the constitution that require top leaders to have "only Khmer nationality" were approved by the National Assembly's Standing Committee today and submitted to the National Assembly's Legislative Committee for review.

In a press release issued today, the National Assembly said that after the meeting of the draft constitution, on the amendment of the constitution, it had been approved, and was sent from the Council of Ministers this morning. The Standing Committee of the National Assembly decided to submit it to the Committee on Legislation and Justice of the National Assembly for review and will report to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

National Assembly spokesman Leng Penglong told EAC News yesterday that the Legislative and Justice Committee had only three to four days to review and report back to the National Assembly Standing Committee. He expects the law to be passed by the National Assembly later this month.

On Monday, His Majesty the King of Cambodia, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, authorized the Prime Minister to continue the process of amending the draft Constitution, which requires top leaders to have only Khmer nationality after receiving a letter from the Constitutional Council declaring that this law was possible.

Draft Constitutional Law on the Amendment of Article 19 New, 82 New, 106 New (a), Article 119 New and Article 137 New of the Constitution, and Article 3 and Article 4 of the Additional Constitution to ensure the normal functioning of national institutions is approved by the Council of Ministers since October 8th.

The amendment of the Constitution is an initiative of Prime Minister Hun Sen to ensure the normal functioning of national institutions, as well as to show loyalty to the nation and avoid foreign interference.