Phnom Penh, Jun 19 (IANS): Some 40,000 bottles of indelible ink, donated by the Indian government, were delivered to Cambodia's National Election Committee (NEC) Wednesday for use in general elections July 28.

The poll panel accepted the ink from Indian Ambassador to Cambodia Dinesh K. Patnaik.

NEC's chairman Im Suosdey said the ink cost $877,800, and each bottle contains 70 cc, reported Xinhua.

"The Indian government always pays close attention and support for electoral process in Cambodia," Im Suosdey said. "The donation shows more constant solidarity, friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and India."

The indelible ink will be used to mark voters' fingers and it cannot be washed off for 7 to 15 days.

Cambodia is scheduled to hold a general elections for the 123-seat parliament July 28, he said, adding that over 9 million Cambodians are eligible to cast their ballots.

Eight political parties will run in the elections. Three major parties among the registered parties are the ruling Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Hun Sen, the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party led by self-exiled leader Sam Rainsy, and the royalist Funcinpec Party headed by Princess Norodom Arun Rasmey, the youngest daughter of the late king Norodom Sihanouk.

In the last elections in 2008, the party of Prime Minister Hun Sen won 90 out of the 123 parliamentary seats, while the opposition won 29 seats, and the royalist group totally took four seats.