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Khmer Rouge leader dies

PHNOM PENH: Ta Mok, one of the chief architects of the Khmer Rouge's brutal rule of Cambodia during the 1970s, died on Friday, triggering outrage and disappointment that he will never face justice for his role in atrocities that killed an estimated 1.7 million persons. The death came as a U.N.-backed process to put former Khmer Rouge leaders on trial was finally gathering pace, and makes Mr. Ta Mok the latest senior figure from the ex-regime to die before facing court. He was believed to be 80. Mr. Ta Mok, whose real name is Ung Choeun, was one of two senior Khmer Rouge officials in detention awaiting trial on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. The group's extremist policies during its rule in the late 1970s led to the deaths through starvation, overwork, disease and execution. — AP

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