Key Khmer Rouge figures charged
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Ieng Sary has repeatedly denied responsibility for any crimes
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Cambodian authorities have arrested two leading figures from the notorious 1970s Khmer Rouge regime and charged them with crimes against humanity. |
are due to appear at a UN-backed genocide tribunal on Wednesday.
"Today Ieng Sary and Ieng Thirith have been arrested in execution of an arrest warrant... for crimes against humanity and war crimes as regards Ieng Sary and for crimes against humanity concerning Ieng Thirith," a statement from the tribunal said.
He was responsible for convincing many educated Cambodians who had fled the Khmer Rouge to return to help rebuild the country.
Many were then tortured and executed as part of the purge of intellectuals, some of them diplomats from his own office.
Their trials, before a team of Cambodian and international judges, are expected to start in 2008.
Ieng Sary has repeatedly denied responsibility for any crimes
clipped from: news.bbc.co.uk 