The UN-backed Cambodia tribunal has indicted former president under the Khmer Rouge, Khieu Samphan, for genocide. The 78-year-old former leader is accused of the genocide of Vietnamese and Cham, an Islamic minority in Cambodia.

He is the highest leader to be indicted by the tribunal. Earlier this week Khmer Rouge number two Nuon Chea, and former foreign minister Ieng Sary were charged with genocide.

All three already faced charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Their trials have not yet begun.

The hearings for the case against former head of a prison Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, have ended. A verdict is expected in March.

He is the first to stand trial for the so-called killing fields of the communist Khmer Rouge regime during the 1970s.

Almost 2 million people lost their lives under the regime which forced millions of people into hard labour in an agrarian revolution. The movement's number one leader Pol Pot died in 1998.

Photo: Khieu Samphan - EPA/ANP