Cambodia's former king Sihanouk dies in Beijing

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (R) and his father, former King Norodom Sihanouk, talk to media after arriving in Phnom Penh in this October 20, 2004 file photo. REUTERS/Adrees Latif/Files

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia's former king Norodom Sihanouk, a widely respected figure through decades of turmoil, died in Beijing on Monday, according to an announcement on national television. He was 89.

Sihanouk was a pre-eminent figure in Cambodia's history through a large part of the 20th century. He held considerable power in the 1950s and 1960s when, as a young, flamboyant ruler he held absolute authority and came to symbolise Cambodia.