Cambodians have begun voting in landmark local elections aimed at completing the country's transition to democracy.

Officials say more than five million voters are expected to cast ballots Sunday to choose new leaders for village and district councils. The election is the first to be held in more than 30 years.

Sunday's elections have been overshadowed by complaints of government intimidation and campaign violence. On Saturday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen denied there had been any campaign of political intimidation, despite the recent killing of at least 20 people involved in Sunday's elections.

Members of Cambodia's two main opposition parties, the royalist Funcinpec and the Sam Rainsy party, have charged that Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party is behind the killings.

At least 20 candidates and political campaign workers from the two opposition parties have been killed recently, but the prime minister says official investigations showed there were no political motives involved.

First results of the election are expected on Monday.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.

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