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Khmer Rouge trials ready to start Khmer Rouge trials ready to start
(30 minutes later)
The long-awaited Khmer Rouge trials in Cambodia to are ready to start, after a panel of judges approved ground rules. The long-awaited Khmer Rouge trials in Cambodia 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.
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 is expected to run for three years, starting trials in 2008.
Mr Petit said the rules had been agreed unanimously by the panel. As many as two million are thought to have died during the four years of Khmer Rouge rule in the late 1970s, but no-one has ever faced charges.
"Now that the rules are adopted, we can move forward," he said. The movement's former leader, Pol Pot, died nine years ago.
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. But the former head of state, Khieu Samphan, and Foreign Minister Leng Sary have both been living freely in Cambodia.
KHMER ROUGE TRIBUNAL Will try cases of genocide and crimes against humanityFive judges (three Cambodian) sit in trial courtCases decided by majorityMaximum penalty is life imprisonmentBudget of $56.3m Key figures facing trial
Tribunal co-prosecutor Robert Petit said the rules had been agreed unanimously by the panel.
"These rules will ensure us fair and transparent trials," he told reporters.
Almost a third of the court's three-year mandate has already passed, but Mr Petit says the time has not been wasted.
"Given all the complexities and after intensive work and consultations, we are pleased to have finalised the rules in a reasonable time. It has been a worthwhile process and it has been essential to take time to prepare this draft."
The local and international legal officials had struggled to find ways to incorporate international law into proceedings that fall under Cambodian jurisdiction.
But after months of negotiations, they have settled their differences, says the BBC's Guy de Launey in Phnom Penh.
Foreign lawyers will now be allowed to represent defendants and victims may file complaints to the courts as long as they do so as a group.
It means the courts will be able to move forward with the process of prosecuting former Khmer Rouge leaders.
The prosecutors say they will be ready to hand over the files to the investigating judges within weeks, our correspondent adds.
Official confirmation of which former Khmer Rouge leaders will be charged should follow.
Long hiatusLong 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 ended in disarray - and the future of the process looked bleak.
A similar meeting last year ended without agreementA 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, although prosecutors have continued to compile evidence.
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.
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.
But the former head of state, Khieu Samphan, and Foreign Minister Leng Sary have both been living freely in Cambodia.