Updated

Cambodia's foreign minister has assured the United States that the political deadlock in the country will ease soon since opposition lawmakers have agreed to end their boycott of the parliament and attend its upcoming plenary session.

Foreign Minister Prak Sokonn made the statement Thursday when he met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel R. Russel. He said he hopes Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party will also resume talks soon to end political tensions.

Amid deteriorating relations between the two sides last year, Hun Sen stepped up intimidation of the opposition party in the courts. Opposition lawmakers stopped attending parliamentary sessions about four months ago but on Wednesday the party said its members will rejoin the National Assembly.