Cambodia says it has an international obligation to participate in stabilising global food prices.

The information minister, Khieu Kanharith, says although Cambodia is not a major rice exporter it needs to unite with rice exporting countries to avert a serious rice market crisis

His comments follow a proposal by Thailand to form a Mekong rice cartel.

Thai prime minister Samak Sundravej wants to get talks started among the five Mekong nations to form OREC, the Organisation of Rice Exporting Countries.

Like the oil cartel OPEC, Mr Sundravej says OREC, which will encompass Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma. can help member countries trade rice on the world market.

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