Phnom Penh (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The Cambodian opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, has returned home after spending the past year in self-imposed exile in France.

About 2,000 people have gathered to welcome him, crowding onto the tarmac as his plane touched down in Phnom Penh.

The politician and leader of the Sam Rainsy party says he is happy to be home.

"It's a new chapter of Cambodian politics which starts today."

Sam Rainsy had been in France for a year since fleeing Cambodia after losing immunity from prosecution. In December, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen and National Assembly president, Prince Norodom Ranariddh.

He was given a royal pardon last week after apologising to the prime minister.

Cheam Channy, a member of parliament who was serving a seven-year sentence for fraud and trying to overthrow the government, was also freed.

Sam Rainsy says his party will drop its confrontational tactics and move towards dialogue with Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party. But he says he will not abandon his opposition stance in return for being allowed home.

While this apparent rapprochement has been hailed by some foreign governments as a welcome sign of increasing democracy in Cambodia, rights groups warn that repression still exists.

Many experts consider this an attempt to gain the favour of international donors, who are due to meet in coming months to discuss the donation of millions of dollars to the King, after he heavy criticism of government civil rights abuse in recent weeks.