About 100,000 Cambodians to receive Sihanouk's body

People gather to mourn the late former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh October 15, 2012. Norodom Sihanouk, once an absolute ruler who freed Cambodia from colonialism before becoming a tragic pawn through decades of turmoil, died on Monday in a Beijing hospital. He was 89.  [Photo/Agencies]

PHNOM PENH - Around 100,000 Cambodian people will flank the road from the Phnom Penh International Airport to the Royal Palace to solute the return of former King Norodom Sihanouk's body on Wednesday afternoon, Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuk Tema said Tuesday.

"They will line up along road sides from the airport to the Royal Palace in order to receive the King-Father's body from Beijing," he told reporters.

Sihanouk died early Monday due to natural causes at the age of 90 in China's Beijing Hospital, according to the Cambodian government.

He suffered from various forms of cancer, diabetes and hypertension and had been treated in Beijing for years.

The government announced Monday that the official mourning period for the King-Father will last for a week from October 17 to 23 with flags flying at half-mast and all entertainment being prohibited.

The King-Father's body will be emplaced at the Royal Palace for at least 3 months for mourners to pay last respects before being cremated.

Sihanouk reigned Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his voluntary abdication on October 7, 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni.