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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Khmer Rouge trials ready to start | Khmer Rouge trials ready to start |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The long-awaited Khmer Rouge trials in Cambodia 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. |
| 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 is expected last for three years, with trials starting in 2008. | The tribunal is expected last for three years, with trials starting in 2008. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The movement's former leader, Pol Pot, died nine years ago. | The movement's former leader, Pol Pot, died nine years ago. |
| But the regime's former head of state, Khieu Samphan, and Foreign Minister Leng Sary have both been living freely in Cambodia. | But the regime's 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 | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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." | "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. | 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 Delauney 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Official confirmation of which former Khmer Rouge leaders will be charged should follow. |
| Long hiatus | Long hiatus |
| A meeting in November last year 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 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, although prosecutors have continued to compile evidence. | 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. |