Khmer Rouge Leaders Convicted for Crimes Against Humanity

A United Nations-backed war-crimes court in a "historic" judgement convicted two former Khmer Rouge leaders on charges of "extermination encompassing murder, political persecution and other inhumane acts" while ruling Cambodia in the 1970s.

Former head of state Khieu Samphan and "Brother No. 2" Nuon Chea, the genocidal regime's top surviving officials, have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Almost three-and-half decades ago, Cambodia's Khmer Rouge wiped out a quarter of the country's population, the Time reports.

Nuon Chea, 88, was Khmer Rouge's chief ideologue and former deputy to late leader Pol Pot. On the other hand, Khieu Samphan, 83, was the former head of state.

Chief trial judge Nil Nonn announced that the duo had participated in a "joint criminal enterprise" that directed inhumane acts including murder and political maltreatment related to the mass eviction of the residents of the city along with executions of enemy soldiers, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The judge identified Chea's role in the deaths of around 1.7 million of his compatriots. The convictions of the two former Khmer Rouge leaders are the first against top regime officials, by the tribunal. The sluggishness in serving justice over violation of human rights by Khmer Rouge - during its rule between 1975 and 1979 - has been criticized time and again.

Lawyers of the two convicts said that they will appeal the verdict. The prosecutors had sought life term - which is the maximum penalty allowed - for both of them, who were in detention.

"The sentences that were imposed reflect the gravity of the crimes of which the accused were convicted," said Nicholas Koumjian, international co-prosecutor.

However, Chea and Samphan have denied any wrongdoing and there was no apparent reaction from either of them.