The former director of the Khmer Rouge's notorious Tuol Sleng prison told judges at the Cambodia tribunal that prison staff murdered babies by smashing their heads against trees.

Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, told the UN-backed court that he gave the order to kill the babies because, "we were afraid those children would take revenge". The former prison chief says he gave the order because he had to implement the policy of the Communist party. The children were the offspring of alleged opponents of the Khmer Rouge regime who were interrogated, tortured and murdered in the Phnom Penh jail. More than 14,000 men women and children were killed at the Tuol Sleng prison, also known as S-21.

Duch on trial for war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and homicide. He faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted. Some 1.7 million Cambodians were killed during the Khmer Rouge reign of terror between 1975 and 1979.