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Cambodia: Khmer Rouge leaders await war crimes verdict Top Khmer Rouge leaders guilty of crimes against humanity
(about 1 hour later)
Cambodia's UN-backed war crimes tribunal is to deliver its verdict in the trial of the last two surviving top Khmer Rouge leaders. Two top Khmer Rouge leaders have been jailed for life after being convicted by Cambodia's UN-backed tribunal of crimes against humanity.
Nuon Chea, 88, and Khieu Samphan, 83, are charged with crimes against humanity. Nuon Chea served as Pol Pot's deputy and Khieu Samphan was the Maoist regime's head of state.
The verdict comes more than three decades after the Maoist regime's fall. They are the first top-level leaders to be held accountable for its crimes.
Up to two million people are believed to have died under the Khmer Rouge - from starvation and overwork or executed as enemies of the state. Up to two million people are believed to have died under the Khmer Rouge - from starvation and overwork or executed as enemies of the state.
To date, no top-level leader has faced justice. The Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot died in 1998. The regime, in power from 1975-1979, sought to create an agrarian society.
Prosecutors are seeking life imprisonment for the pair.
The case against the men has been split into two trials to speed up proceedings because of their age. A separate trial, for genocide, has just got under way.
The Khmer Rouge was in power from 1975-1979. Driven by Maoist ideology, it sought to create an agrarian society.
Cities were emptied and their residents forced to work on rural co-operatives. Many were worked to death while others starved as the economy imploded.Cities were emptied and their residents forced to work on rural co-operatives. Many were worked to death while others starved as the economy imploded.
During four violent years, the Khmer Rouge also killed all those it perceived as enemies - intellectuals, minorities, former officials - and their families.During four violent years, the Khmer Rouge also killed all those it perceived as enemies - intellectuals, minorities, former officials - and their families.
Nuon Chea, Pol Pot's second in command, was seen an ideological driving force within the regime. Khieu Samphan was its official head of state. Nuon Chea was seen an ideological driving force within the regime. Khieu Samphan was its public face.
Prosecutors have argued that they formulated policy and were complicit in its brutal execution. Prosecutors argued that they formulated policy and were complicit in its brutal execution.
Both men denied the charges against them. In closing statements last year, they expressed remorse but said they had neither ordered deaths nor been aware of them.
Unfit for trial
Over three years the court has heard from some of those who lost entire families to the regime.Over three years the court has heard from some of those who lost entire families to the regime.
"My anger remains in my heart,'' Suon Mom, 75, whose husband and four children starved to death, told the Associated Press news agency."My anger remains in my heart,'' Suon Mom, 75, whose husband and four children starved to death, told the Associated Press news agency.
"I still remember the day I left Phnom Penh, walking along the road without having any food or water to drink ... Hopefully the court will sentence the two leaders to life in prison." "I still remember the day I left Phnom Penh, walking along the road without having any food or water to drink."
Two other former Khmer Rouge ministers were to be tried along side them. Both men denied the charges against them. In closing statements last year, they expressed remorse but said they had neither ordered deaths nor been aware of them.
The pair also face a separate genocide trial. The case against them was split to accelerate proceedings, because of their age.
Two other former Khmer Rouge ministers were to be tried with them.
Ieng Sary, the former foreign minister, died in March 2013. His wife Ieng Thirith, who served as the regime's social affairs minister, has been ruled unfit to stand trial.Ieng Sary, the former foreign minister, died in March 2013. His wife Ieng Thirith, who served as the regime's social affairs minister, has been ruled unfit to stand trial.
Former prison chief Duch is the only senior Khmer Rouge leader who has been held to account for the regime's crimes. Before this, former prison chief Duch was the only senior Khmer Rouge leader who had been held to account for the regime's crimes.
He was jailed in 2010 for running the Tuol Sleng prison, where thousands of people defined as enemies of the regime were tortured and killed.He was jailed in 2010 for running the Tuol Sleng prison, where thousands of people defined as enemies of the regime were tortured and killed.