Phnom Penh - Spectacular rallies by the main Cambodian political parties Friday marked the last official day of campaigning ahead of the weekend's national elections.

The National Election Committee has declared a media backout on politics from Friday night until the polls close at 3 pm Sunday. Cambodians have all day Sunday to vote for 123 seats across the country after a month of official campaigning.

Hundreds of floats waving flags and playing party slogans from loudspeakers held up traffic in the capital as the 11 competing parties made the most of their last chance to get their message across to an estimated 8 million voters.

The dominant Cambodian People's Party with popular Prime Minister Hun Sen at its helm is tipped to easily win, with party polling estimating it could take around 80 seats.

A total ban on alcohol has also been declared over the election weekend in a bid to stem violence, but in comparison to previous democratic elections, held five-yearly since 1993, the mood of these elections has been largely peaceful, according to local monitors.

A number of international monitors will be on hand to observe the elections are free and fair, including a delegation from the European Union. (dpa)