PHNOM PENH, Oct. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Prime Minister Hun Sen Sunday urged the members of the two-party coalition government, especially the Senate to work harder and quicker on the issue of the royal succession aiming at choosing a new king within one weekas required by the Constitution and a new draft law on the functioning of the Throne Council.

    After returning from Vietnam where he attended the fifth Asia-Europe Forum, Hun Sen told reporters that he would seek to resolvethe royal succession by Thursday, or face a republic state if his country fails to do so.

    "If nothing is changed, the first meeting of the Throne Councilwill be on Oct. 14 at around 4:00 p.m.," he said at Phnom Penh airport, referring to a selection of a new king in case that the retired monarch will not resume to throne.

    On Wednesday, the former King Norodom Sihanouk sent a royal message to his people, two heads of Buddhist monks, and the country's top leaders including Hun Sen and Prince Ranariddh, of his decision to get retired saying that he was old and ill.

    According to the Constitution and a draft law on functioning ofthe Throne Council, a new monarch shall be chosen within one week after the king's death, retirement or abdication.

    Hun Sen said he would count the day of the king's retirement onOct. 7 as that publicly announced by Prince Norodom Ranariddh to the parliamentary session and to the reporters.

    In that regard, Oct. 14 will be a deadline for choosing a new king of Cambodia.

    While urging the process moved ahead, Hun Sen said Prince Sihamoni will be the only candidate for the royal title.

    "Based on what we have prepared, the majority of votes will be in favor of Prince Sihamoni to be a new king of Cambodia," he said.

    Hun Sen, meanwhile, said Cambodia will fall into a complicated situation if a new king will not be chosen by Thursday, or will face like a moment "real republic state" since there is no monarchto reign the constitutional monarchy.

    Cambodia's Senate will likely approve a draft law on royal succession on Monday to pave the way for the formation of the Throne Council and its function to choose a new king.

    The council has nine members -- the presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate, the prime minister, the leaders of the country's two largest Buddhist groups and the first and second vice presidents of the two parliamentary chambers.

    Constitutionally, Cambodia's king must be male and at least 30 years old.

    Also, on Sunday, Hun Sen said he still hoped even not much the retired King would resume the royal position.

    Whether to return or not, will likely be announced by the retired monarch himself or Prince Ranariddh who is now with the king in Beijing to persuade his father to resume throne. Enditem