Chinese state councilor to escort home coffin of Sihanouk

Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo will escort the coffin of Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodia's former King, back to his home country Wednesday.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei made the announcement early Wednesday morning.

Sihanouk died of illness early Monday morning in Beijing at the age of 90.

Born on Oct. 31, 1922, Sihanouk reigned over Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 till his voluntary abdication on Oct. 7, 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni.