PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The US State Department and the American ambassador angrily denied allegations that they are blocking an FBI investigation into a deadly bombing in Cambodia which killed more than 20 people and injured 100, including one American.

Former finance minister Sam Rainsy, who hopes to win Sunday's election to become the next prime minister, sparked the feud after saying in an interview that the State Department and American Ambassador to Cambodia, Kenneth Quinn, pressured the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) because the case allegedly incriminates Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Rainsy said he recently delivered to the FBI a fugitive who confessed to throwing the handgrenade, and the new confession was now being covered up.

Rainsy said Hun Sen must be investigated for these and other alleged murders, plus drug trafficking, and the pocketing of "500 million" US dollars during his corrupt reign.

Hun Sen, who is currently hospitalized after a Friday night appendix operation, has consistently denied similar allegations in the past as a plot to smear him.

When Ambassador Quinn was asked in an interview to respond to Rainsy's charges, the envoy patched through a telephone call from Phnom Penh to Washington, so State Department Assistant Secretary Stanley Roth could reply.

In the telephone interview, conducted about 1 a.m. on Monday morning Eastern Daylight Time, Roth said Rainsy's allegations were "absolute nonsense."

Roth said in an interview, "I don't like to see attacks on the US State Department, or Ambassador Quinn, for political purposes."

Referring to the FBI's examination of witnesses and evidence from the March 30, 1997 grenade attack in Phnom Penh, Roth added, "I would like nothing better than to find out who did it.

"This is an ongoing investigation. The FBI is handling that, with no advice or hint on what to do" from the State Department, Roth said.

Asked about the content of the FBI's interview with the alleged fugitive, Roth replied, "I have no idea. I don't know what he said. This interview was on June 4.

"It was on Quinn's initiative that this person was brought to the FBI. It is exasperating when the US takes the lead in bringing something to the FBI, that the US gets criticized.

"It is an FBI investigation because of American interest," resulting from injuries suffered by a US citizen in the attack, Roth said.

Rainsy described the grenade assault as an assassination attempt against himself, which missed and instead killed and injured a crowd he was addressing in a small park in central Phnom Penh.

Rainsy also charged that Quinn also placed a "block" against the FBI investigation, because it would mar the last months of Quinn's diplomatic assignment here, in which the envoy attempted to maintain good relations with Hun Sen.

In a three-hour interview on Monday, Quinn said, "I would challenge anyone to produce any evidence or indication that I, or my embassy, ever took any action to influence the FBI investigation in any direction."

An embassy spokesman added, "FBI headquarters in Washington has acknowledged in writing that this has never occurred, and that the ambassador and his embassy have provided all assistance the FBI requested."

The squabble among Roth, Quinn and Rainsy over the FBI investigation began when the elegantly dressed, thin, bespectacled Rainsy made the remarks on Sunday during a 90-minute, taped interview on the campaign trail.

While speeding south on Highway Five in white Land Rover from a campaign rally in Kompong Chhnang back to the capital, Phnom Penh, Rainsy said, "I have sent people, working under my instruction, directly under my instruction, to provide further evidence of Hun Sen's involvement in the grenade attack to the FBI.

"One of the perpetrators, I brought to the FBI. The person himself," Rainsy added.

"He threw the grenade, and he looks exactly like the sketch produced by the FBI.

"And I'm afraid that the FBI is under political pressure not to react."

Asked what pressure, Rainsy replied, "By the State Department, not to make public any conclusion, because this would create a lot of problems for bilateral relations between the present Phnom Penh government and Washington.

"I deplore this attitude, because I think investigations should be above politics.

"And I regret that the American administration has put political consideration above justice, and serious investigation, to render justice to innocent victims."

Rainsy said, "I think the FBI has now enough information, enough evidence, about Hun Sen's involvement because the guy was Hun Sen's bodyguard and he told the FBI, as he told me, that he took orders directly from the head of Hun Sen's bodyguard unit."

After questioning the alleged killer, the FBI released him.

"The FBI would have no authority to arrest him in Bangkok. And I have made promise to the guy that he would not be arrested, otherwise he would not accept to come to Bangkok.

"No authorities can arrest him, (not) the FBI, because the FBI is in a third country. How can the FBI in Thailand arrest a Cambodian citizen involved in a crime committed in Cambodia?

"It was just to exchange information so that the FBI has, at least, more information."

Rainsy quoted an FBI official who was "entitled to speak on behalf of the FBI," who allegedly revealed a disturbing plot.

"He said, 'I cannot do what I want. I cannot say what I want. I cannot conduct my investigation the way I want because I am under pressure'."

Rainsy insisted this FBI official blamed the "foreign relationship between two countries. If it was in America, there would not be that kind of problem."

Rainsy deduced, "So, pressure because of bilateral relationship between two countries? It can only be the State Department.

"I asked him, 'In the United States would you be submitted to the same pressure?' And he said, 'No, in the United States we do our job properly, but here in your country, in Cambodia, I cannot do my job properly'."

Rainsy also blasted Ambassador Quinn's role in the FBI case.

"He is noncommittal, and non-cooperative, regarding this.

"He does not want to be involved, because it would complicate his work. He wants to have good relationship with everybody in Cambodia including with Hun Sen, especially with Hun Sen.

"So if he pushes for this investigation leading to Hun Sen being pointed out as behind the murder, I think he (Quinn) would look very bad, because why has he entertained such a good relationship, for such a long time, with such a criminal?

"So that is why he has to minimize all these stories, and why he has to block this investigation."

Rainsy added, "Regarding the grenade attack of 30th of March 1997, Hun Sen's bodyguards were found directly involved in the grenade attack. And knowing the system in Cambodia, nobody would take such an initiative without at least the consent, not to say under the direct order, of Hun Sen."

Rainsy also condemned Hun Sen, who began in politics as a communist, for allegedly dealing with Cambodian and foreign criminals.

"Hun Sen needs the financial support of the mafia. The communists, they are not good financial and economic managers.

"They have the political power which they use in a discretionary, arbitrary manner, and which they use to support the mafia, to give exclusive economic rights to the mafia. And in return, the mafia provides them with economic support."

Asked if Rainsy would investigate and charge Hun Sen with illegal activity if Rainsy wins Sunday's election, he replied, "Investigate. At least investigate. And if he it is appropriate, and if the court finds enough evidence, he must be prosecuted accordingly.

"I would mention the extrajudicial executions, and many politically motivated killings and crimes. So at least we should start a serious investigation regarding these hundreds of crimes."

Rainsy meanwhile defended himself against widespread complaints that he is using his campaign speeches to ignite racist sentiment against immigrants from Vietnam, in an effort to gain votes.

"If my daughter was to marry a Vietnamese guy, I would not mind," Rainsy said.

Vietnam however is occupying about "10,000 square kilometers" of eastern Cambodia, while "half a million illegal" Vietnamese immigrants are currently scattered throughout this Southeast Asian nation, Rainsy lamented.

Hun Sen, along with Rainsy and deposed prime minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh, appear to be the three top contenders in Sunday's race to become Cambodia's leader for the next five years.

Rainsy's election strength appears to be among urban-based intellectuals, liberals and other idealists impressed with his economic acumen and outspoken allegations against Hun Sen and Ranariddh.

Critics, however, say Rainsy is yet another opportunist who wants to enrich and empower himself at Cambodia's expense.

Hun Sen, meanwhile, enjoys massive support in the countryside thanks to 23 years as prime minister atop a political machine perceived by many as brutal, intimidating and protected by official "impunity."

Hun Sen's supporters insist he will win a majority because his extensive development projects, down-to-earth style, and savvy ability to defeat all enemies makes him popular with people in need.

Ranariddh may have slipped to third place because of disillusionment with his four-year reign as co-prime minister which was marked by increased corruption, elitist incompetence, and an inability to wield power after he won a slight majority against Hun Sen in 1993.

Loyalists of Ranariddh prefer to stress his royal links as son of one of King Norodom Sihanouk's many wives, and say he can attract foreign investment and modernize this devastated nation.

Though some Cambodian and foreign election analysts see Rainsy making great gains in popularity and beating Ranariddh, many expect Hun Sen to scarf up the biggest share of votes.

All three men, however, are expected end up squabbling with for positions in a polarized coalition government, alongside a slew of other contenders, because no one will win the required 82-seat majority in Parliament to claim sole victory.

As a result, Cambodia's next government is predicted to be a messy coalition wracked by in-fighting which could again erupt in bloodshed echoing tank-led street battles in July 1997, in which Hun Sen ousted Ranariddh from his coalition post as co-prime minister.

More than 100 people, mostly Ranariddh supporters, perished in that feud which some diplomats described as a "coup" by Hun Sen.

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Richard S. Ehrlich has a Master's Degree in Journalism from Columbia University, and is the co-author of the classic book of epistolary history, "HELLO MY BIG BIG HONEY!" -- Love Letters to Bangkok Bar Girls and Their Revealing Interviews.

His web page is located at http://www.oocities.org/asia_correspondent and he may be reached by email: animists *at* yahoo dot com