The recommendation came over allegations he used it to threaten opponents.

They include several sons and daughters of close allies to outgoing prime minister Hun Sen and serving ministers.

Hun Sen has said he would step down and hand over power to his son in August, ending a 38-year rule during which he established stability after years of war but stifled democracy in the process.

About 440,000 ballots – or every one in 18 – were invalidated.

Hun Sen, who has ruled the Southeast Asian country for 38 years, was speaking just days after his ruling Cambodian People's Party swept a general election after running virtually unopposed.

Hun Sen has ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades, with an increasingly heavy hand in recent years that has all but wiped out the opposition.

Hun Sen has brushed off Western concern about the election's credibility, determined to prevent any obstacle in his carefully calibrated transition to his anointed successor and eldest son, Hun Manet.

The contest is effectively a one-horse race, with Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party facing no viable opponent after a ruthless, years-long crackdown on its rivals.

Any suspension would silence the prime minister's Facebook page less than a month before an election in Cambodia.

There have been no calls for an election boycott but critics expressed alarm over what is seen as a campaign of intimidation and public threats by Hun Sen and the CPP ahead of an election they are certain to dominate.

The revision to the election law is likely to be approved in the coming days by the rubber-stamp Parliament.

They are at fourth position in the overall medal tally with two days left in the competition.