¡¡¡¡PHNOM PENH, May 27 (Xinhuanet) -- The Cambodian government will continue to collect and destroy illegal small arms and light weapons, Em Sam An, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior,said here Monday.

¡¡¡¡Speaking at an international workshop on prevention of small arms demand by focusing on Southeast Asian region which opened here Monday, he said as a great number of weapons and explosive devices still scatter all over Cambodia, the Cambodian government has launched campaigns to collect these illegal weapons and explosives.

¡¡¡¡Up until now, 111,600 guns have been collected and of which 83,800 had been destroyed in Cambodia, he said, adding that the government has also formed a relevant national commission to strengthen the efforts in cooperation with Non-Governmental Organizations and international community.

¡¡¡¡The workshop provided opportunities for participants from 15 nations to exchange views on weapon reduction and control and promote the policy level of nations in Southeast Asia in curbing the demand for small weapons, he said. Enditem

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