CAMBODIA GOVERMENT REDUCES SOLDIERS, 2001-10-18 (photo)

Cambodia honour guard presents arms during a ceremony in Kampong Chhang province, 90 km south of Phnom Penh, on October 18, 2001. The ceremony marked the launch of a government plan to demobilise 15,000 troops from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) by the end of this year. A further 15,000 will be demobilised in 2002 from Cambodia's estimated armed forces of over 100,000 men and women. Cambodia's aid donors have long pressed the Cambodia government to reduce its bloated military built up over decades of civil war in the country. The government, World Bank and donor countries have contributed to a $40 million demobilisation fund which will be used to provide compensation packages to the 30,000 soldiers cut from the ranks. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea KD/PB