Locals and foreigners wait in line to attend Cambodia's genocide tribunal's ruling on former Khmer Rouge President Khieu Samphan's appeal against his pre-trial detention on the outskirts of Phnom Penh April 23, 2008. Khieu Samphan is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA) 
Chum Mey, one of the few who survived imprisonment at the Khmer Rouge's Tuol Sleng prison, smiles before attending a U.N.-back genocide tribunal's ruling on an appeal against former Khmer Rouge president Khieu Samphan's pre-trial detention, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh April 23, 2008. Khieu Samphan is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA)
A vehicle transports Khieu Samphan, a former president during the Khmer Rouge regime, to a hearing at Cambodia's genocide tribunal, which will rule on an appeal against his pre-trial detention, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh April 23, 2008. Khieu Samphan is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA)
French lawyer Jacques Verges, who will help in the defence of Khieu Samphan, a former president during the Khmer Rouge regime, listens as Cambodia's genocide tribunal ruled on an appeal against Khieu Samphan's pre-trial detention, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh April 23, 2008. Khieu Samphan is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.REUTERS/Heng Sinith/Pool (CAMBODIA)
Khieu Samphan, a former president during the Khmer Rouge regime, sits in the dock before Cambodia's genocide tribunal ruled on an appeal against his pre-trial detention, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh April 23, 2008. Khieu Samphan is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.REUTERS/Pring Samrang/Pool (CAMBODIA)
Khieu Samphan, a former president during the Khmer Rouge regime, sits in the dock before Cambodia's genocide tribunal ruled on an appeal against his pre-trial detention, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh April 23, 2008. Khieu Samphan is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.REUTERS/Mak Remssa/Pool (CAMBODIA)
Khieu Samphan, a former president during the Khmer Rouge regime, sits in the dock before Cambodia's genocide tribunal ruled on an appeal against his pre-trial detention, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh April 23, 2008. Khieu Samphan is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.REUTERS/Pring Samrang/Pool (CAMBODIA)
Khieu Samphan, a former president during the Khmer Rouge regime, sits in the dock before Cambodia's genocide tribunal ruled on an appeal against his pre-trial detention, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh April 23, 2008. Khieu Samphan is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA)
Khieu Samphan, a former president during the Khmer Rouge regime, stands in the dock before Cambodia's genocide tribunal ruled on an appeal against his pre-trial detention, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh April 23, 2008. Khieu Samphan is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA)
Khieu Samphan, a former president during the Khmer Rouge regime, is helped by police into the dock before Cambodia's genocide tribunal ruled on an appeal against his pre-trial detention, on the outskirts of Phnom Penh April 23, 2008. Khieu Samphan is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea (CAMBODIA)Charleston Daily Mail
Wednesday April 23, 2008
By KER MUNTHIT
Associated Press Writer
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -- A former top Khmer Rouge leader went before Cambodia's genocide tribunal Wednesday to seek his release from pretrial detention, represented by a French lawyer known for defending Nazis, serial killers and Venezuelan terrorist Carlos the Jackal.
One of the lawyers representing Khieu Samphan, 76, is Jacques Verges, who has earned notoriety with a client list that includes Nazi Gestapo officer Klaus Barbie.
The tribunal has charged Khieu Samphan with crimes against humanity and war crimes committed when the communist Khmer Rouge held power in 1975-79. Some 1.7 million people died from starvation, disease, overwork and execution as a result of the group's radical policies in trying to build a classless society.
Khieu Samphan's defense lawyers say he held "no real power'' as the Khmer Rouge's head of state and is not guilty of the crimes he is charged with, Judge Prak Kimsan told the court, reading from previously submitted arguments.
Expressionless before the court, Khieu Samphan stood when asked to introduce himself and said he lived a life of poverty after the fall of the Khmer Rouge.
"I didn't have any job, and after leaving the jungle, I depended on my wife who supported the whole family,'' he said, dressed in khakis and a green, long-sleeved shirt.
Khieu Samphan has been detained by the tribunal since Nov. 19. He is one of five former senior leaders in custody.
By KER MUNTHIT
Associated Press Writer
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -- A former top Khmer Rouge leader went before Cambodia's genocide tribunal Wednesday to seek his release from pretrial detention, represented by a French lawyer known for defending Nazis, serial killers and Venezuelan terrorist Carlos the Jackal.
One of the lawyers representing Khieu Samphan, 76, is Jacques Verges, who has earned notoriety with a client list that includes Nazi Gestapo officer Klaus Barbie.
The tribunal has charged Khieu Samphan with crimes against humanity and war crimes committed when the communist Khmer Rouge held power in 1975-79. Some 1.7 million people died from starvation, disease, overwork and execution as a result of the group's radical policies in trying to build a classless society.
Khieu Samphan's defense lawyers say he held "no real power'' as the Khmer Rouge's head of state and is not guilty of the crimes he is charged with, Judge Prak Kimsan told the court, reading from previously submitted arguments.
Expressionless before the court, Khieu Samphan stood when asked to introduce himself and said he lived a life of poverty after the fall of the Khmer Rouge.
"I didn't have any job, and after leaving the jungle, I depended on my wife who supported the whole family,'' he said, dressed in khakis and a green, long-sleeved shirt.
Khieu Samphan has been detained by the tribunal since Nov. 19. He is one of five former senior leaders in custody.
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