Ex-Khmer Rouge leader seeks bail

[rpannier]

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) -- A former Khmer Rouge leader said he will not try to flee the country to escape from justice as he pressed Thursday an appeal against his pre-trial detention by Cambodia's U.N.-backed tribunal.

Nuon Chea, the Khmer Rouge's former ideologist who appeared at the hearing, has been held since September 19 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his involvement in the group's brutal 1975-79 rule, which caused the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people.

He is one of five former Khmer Rouge leaders detained by the tribunal, which is expected to begin holding trials trial later this year. He is the second former Khmer Rouge leader to appear before the judges.

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In December, the pretrial chamber judges ruled against a similar appeal for release by Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, who headed the Khmer Rouge's notorious S-21 prison and torture center.

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The other defendants are Ieng Sary's wife Ieng Thirith, who was minister for social affairs in the Khmer Rouge government, and Khieu Samphan, the former Khmer Rouge head of state

link:
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/02/07/khmer.rouge.ap/index.html