The Cambodian government has banned a controversial Miss Landmine beauty pageant, claiming it is insulting to disabled people.
An exhibition of photographs of the contests was due to open on Friday, with the top prize of an artificial leg for the winner of an internet vote. But over the weekend the government ordered the organisers "to stop activity immediately in order to keep the honour and dignity of handicapped Cambodians, especially women".
Morten Traavik, a Norwegian artist who organised the pageant, said he believed there had been a "misunderstanding".
He explained that the event aimed "to raise awareness of what landmines have done to the people" and said that it would be a "big shame" if people could not see the exhibition.
"Why this situation comes now and not before two years of good relations, I do not know," said Mr Traavik. "I have requested a meeting with [the social affairs minister Ith Sam Heng] as soon as possible to try to correct the misunderstanding."
As recently as last week the government expressed its support for Miss Landmine, despite banning other beauty contests. Along with Angola and Afghanistan, Cambodia is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world.
Miss Landmine website.
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