Prince Norodom Ranariddh was born in 1944; son of King Norodom Sihanouk.

He was educated in France; received doctoral degree in international law from University of Aix-Marseilles around 1970. The Prince returned to Cambodia and worked with resistance leaders during early 1970s; he was arrested, acquitted on charges of engaging in terrorism in 1971... returned to France in mid-1970s to teach at alma mater.

He frequently serves as intermediary, personal representative for his father.

Elevated to top of ANS largely believed effort by Sihanouk to position the Prince for succession... tasked with improving relations between FUNCINPEC, ANS, and CGDK faction.

Supreme Commander since 1985; Commander in Chief and Chief of Staff, ANS since 1986.

The Prince became Cambodia First Prime Minister from 1993 until July 1997 when he ousted from power by his Second Prime Minister, Hun Sen, in a two-day street battle in Phnom Penh.

Today, he is president of National Assembly.

Source: The Cambodian Crisis and US Policy Dilemmas.