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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Khmer Rouge trials ready to start | Khmer Rouge trials ready to start |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The long-awaited Khmer Rouge trials in Cambodia to are ready to start, after a panel of judges approved ground rules. | |
| "These rules will ensure us fair and transparent trials," co-prosecutor Robert Petit told reporters. | "These rules will ensure us fair and transparent trials," co-prosecutor Robert Petit told reporters. |
| The deal was reached in a week-long meeting, after a delay of more than six months because of disagreements between local and UN-appointed legal officials. | The deal was reached in a week-long meeting, after a delay of more than six months because of disagreements between local and UN-appointed legal officials. |
| The tribunal, which has a budget of $56.3m, is expected to run for three years, starting trials in 2008. | The tribunal, which has a budget of $56.3m, is expected to run for three years, starting trials in 2008. |
| Mr Petit said the rules had been agreed unanimously by the panel. | Mr Petit said the rules had been agreed unanimously by the panel. |
| "Now that the rules are adopted, we can move forward," he said. | "Now that the rules are adopted, we can move forward," he said. |
| A UN appointed judge recently said the investigation phase, including arrests of potential defendants, could begin within weeks of the rules being adopted, the Associated Press reported. | A UN appointed judge recently said the investigation phase, including arrests of potential defendants, could begin within weeks of the rules being adopted, the Associated Press reported. |
| Long hiatus | Long hiatus |
| A meeting in November last year over ended in disarray - and the future of the process looked bleak. | A meeting in November last year over ended in disarray - and the future of the process looked bleak. |
| A similar meeting last year ended without agreement | A similar meeting last year ended without agreement |
| But this time the mood was cordial. | But this time the mood was cordial. |
| Earlier officials told the BBC that there were no serious disagreements during the meeting. | Earlier officials told the BBC that there were no serious disagreements during the meeting. |
| Many of the legal officials have had little to do during the long hiatus caused by the dispute. | Many of the legal officials have had little to do during the long hiatus caused by the dispute. |
| BBC correspondent Guy De Launey said the prosecutors have continued to compile evidence - and they are now ready to give their files to the investigating judges. | BBC correspondent Guy De Launey said the prosecutors have continued to compile evidence - and they are now ready to give their files to the investigating judges. |
| It means that there should soon be official confirmation of which former Khmer Rouge leaders will be charged - and with what crimes. | It means that there should soon be official confirmation of which former Khmer Rouge leaders will be charged - and with what crimes. |
| As many as two million people are thought to have died during the four years of Khmer Rouge government in the late 1970s. | As many as two million people are thought to have died during the four years of Khmer Rouge government in the late 1970s. |
| The movement's former leader, Pol Pot, died nine years ago. | The movement's former leader, Pol Pot, died nine years ago. |
| But the former head of state, Khieu Samphan, and Foreign Minister Leng Sary have both been living freely in Cambodia. | But the former head of state, Khieu Samphan, and Foreign Minister Leng Sary have both been living freely in Cambodia. |