Article published on the 2009-12-18

Cambodia's UN-backed war crimes court on Friday charged Khmer Rouge former head of state Khieu Samphan with genocide over the regime's slaughter of Vietnamese people and ethnic Cham Muslims. The 78-year-old was already charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity.

"This morning Khieu Samphan has been brought before the court and informed that the charges against him have been extended to include genocide against the Chams and the Vietnamese," said the UN-backed court's spokesman Lars Olsen.

Up to two million Cambodians were murdered during the hardline communist regime's four-year rule, from 1975-1979.

The tribunal issued genocide charges for the first time earlier this week against two other leaders of the regime - former Khmer Rouge number two Nuon Chea and foreign minister Ieng Sary.

Last month the court announced it was investigating incursions into Vietnam as well as executions of Cambodia's Cham minority.