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| Top Khmer Rouge diplomat in court | Top Khmer Rouge diplomat in court |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary has appeared before Cambodia's genocide tribunal to appeal against his detention. | Former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary has appeared before Cambodia's genocide tribunal to appeal against his detention. |
| The 82-year-old has been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Maoist regime's four-year rule in the late 1970s. | The 82-year-old has been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Maoist regime's four-year rule in the late 1970s. |
| He is one of five former leaders of the Khmer Rouge being detained by the UN-backed tribunal. | He is one of five former leaders of the Khmer Rouge being detained by the UN-backed tribunal. |
| Some 1.7 million people are thought to have died under the brutal regime. | Some 1.7 million people are thought to have died under the brutal regime. |
| Hundreds of thousands starved as the Khmer Rouge tried to create an agrarian society. Many others perceived as educated were tortured and executed. | Hundreds of thousands starved as the Khmer Rouge tried to create an agrarian society. Many others perceived as educated were tortured and executed. |
| Trials are expected to begin later in the year. | Trials are expected to begin later in the year. |
| Royal pardon | Royal pardon |
| About 300 people attended the hearing at the court in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. WHO WERE THE KHMER ROUGE? Maoist regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975-1979Founded and led by Pol Pot, who died in 1998 Abolished religion, schools and currency in a bid to create agrarian utopiaUp to two million people thought to have died from starvation, overwork or execution Brutal Khmer Rouge regime | About 300 people attended the hearing at the court in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. WHO WERE THE KHMER ROUGE? Maoist regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975-1979Founded and led by Pol Pot, who died in 1998 Abolished religion, schools and currency in a bid to create agrarian utopiaUp to two million people thought to have died from starvation, overwork or execution Brutal Khmer Rouge regime |
| Ieng Sary is the most prominent surviving Khmer Rouge leader - and is still viewed as an influential and respected figure in parts of Cambodia, reports the BBC's Guy Delauney from Phnom Penh. | Ieng Sary is the most prominent surviving Khmer Rouge leader - and is still viewed as an influential and respected figure in parts of Cambodia, reports the BBC's Guy Delauney from Phnom Penh. |
| He received a royal pardon 12 years ago after reaching a deal with the government that resulted in the eventual surrender of the Khmer Rouge. | He received a royal pardon 12 years ago after reaching a deal with the government that resulted in the eventual surrender of the Khmer Rouge. |
| His lawyers say this is why he should not be facing charges now. They will also argue that a trial would amount to double jeopardy. | His lawyers say this is why he should not be facing charges now. They will also argue that a trial would amount to double jeopardy. |
| The Vietnamese-backed forces which ousted the Khmer Rouge in 1979 tried Ieng Sary in absentia and found him guilty of genocide. That verdict was overturned by the pardon. | The Vietnamese-backed forces which ousted the Khmer Rouge in 1979 tried Ieng Sary in absentia and found him guilty of genocide. That verdict was overturned by the pardon. |
| But Cambodians who survived Khmer Rouge prison camps feel particularly strongly about the former foreign minister, our correspondent adds. | But Cambodians who survived Khmer Rouge prison camps feel particularly strongly about the former foreign minister, our correspondent adds. |
| Many of them were well-educated people who returned to the country after personal appeals from Ieng Sary to help rebuild Cambodia. | Many of them were well-educated people who returned to the country after personal appeals from Ieng Sary to help rebuild Cambodia. |
| They were arrested on arrival, and thrown into brutal detention centres. | They were arrested on arrival, and thrown into brutal detention centres. |
| Ieng Sary's wife, former social welfare minister Ieng Thirith, has also been charged by the genocide court. | Ieng Sary's wife, former social welfare minister Ieng Thirith, has also been charged by the genocide court. |
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| The scene in the Phnom Penh courtroom |