Partial results from Sunday's local elections in Cambodia show Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party winning an overwhelming victory.

Initial results suggest the CPP will retain control of most of the country's 1,621 communes, or clusters of villages.

The opposition Sam Rainsey party won a handful of leadership posts, while Prince Norodom Ranariddh's royalist Funcinpec party trailed badly despite high expectations before the balloting.

Hun Sen's party has controlled all communes in Cambodia for 20 years, since Vietnam toppled the Khmer Rouge regime. The election results show the Prime Minister has little to worry about a substantial challenge in general elections due next year.

The elections were the first of their kind in Cambodia in three decades and were billed as an important step on the road to a democratic system, as prescribed in the 1991 accord that helped end the country's long civil war.

However, the polling was marred by violence and complaints of intimidation. At least 20 opposition candidates and campaign workers were killed during the campaign. Hun Sen has denied opposition charges the ruling party was behind the killings.

Sunday's vote was generally peaceful. Official results are expected in about two weeks.

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