Today Mr. Hun Sen's forces began arresting political opponents, one of whom was killed.

Critics, however, claimed that he had suspended the constitution and was responsible for human rights violations by arresting and detaining opponents.

The regime nullified March elections and security forces arrested or killed opponents, including legislators, and tortured suspects.

Mr. Mobutu has often arrested opponents and exiled them to the countryside to intimidate or silence them.

Meanwhile, two generals ordered by Nariño to arrest opponents of his centralist system, instead defected to the federalists.

Opposition members throw grenades to disrupt the electoral process, while those in power use the attacks as a pretext to arrest opponents, Barahinduka said.

But the same man's Government has arrested and harassed opponents and been accused of authoritarian tactics.

Security forces also raided numerous homes around the city and arrested suspected political opponents.

The president-elect immediately began to arrest opponents and take other dictatorial measures even before being sworn in on June 16.