A senior Ministry of Interior official Wednesday called on political parties to provide evidence of campaign irregularities before accusing local authorities of violating election laws.

"If there is no evidence, the person violating election laws cannot be punished," said Lt. Gen. Sak Setha, director general of the ministry's department of administration. "Normally, politicians of political parties who issue statements always want to gain political benefit."

Investigations into alleged irregularities have not produced evidence that follows the accusations of some political parties, he said. Only small irregularities have been found, he said.

Sak Setha spoke to reporters at the closing ceremony of a training period for 65 "master trainers" to promote a better electoral process and reduce election irregularities.

The training was conducted through the UNDP and the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia. The master trainers are expected to train another 20,000 interested parties, including village chiefs, commune councilors, political parties, monks, and others.

Sam Rainsy Party Secretary-General Eng Chhay Ieng said his party always collects evidence prior to issuing statements of wrongdoing.

On Monday, SRP Deputy Secretary-General Mu Sochua claimed she had been involved in two serious incidents with Cambodian People's Party officials, including a physical altercation in Kampot province, where she is a parliamentary candidate.