correspondent
Karen Percy
Cambodia's opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, has been stripped of parliamentary immunity in a move his supporters say reflects political intimidation by the ruling party.
MPs from the ruling Cambodian People's Party have voted overwhelming to proceed with the action, rejecting attempts to delay the vote.
It means Mr Sam can be investigated by police and the courts for an incident at the Vietnam border last month where he is accused of illegally moving markers.
Opposition members from the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party boycotted the session.
They say an investigative committee would be a more appropriate.
Mr Sam is travelling in Europe and it is not known when he will return to Cambodia.
He has lived in exile before when the government stripped him of immunity in 2005.
Human Rights Watch accuses the country's prime minister, Hun Sen, of using the legal system to harass his critics.
Last week, Mr Hun criticised Thailand's judicial system for pursuing former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra for political, not criminal reasons.
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