ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 1996 TAG: 9609160062
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
King Norodom Sihanouk granted amnesty Saturday to a Khmer Rouge rebel leader widely blamed for his role in the deaths of up to 2 million people, including members of the royal family.
Officials close to co-premiers Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen said Sihanouk signed the amnesty decree after meeting with the co-prime ministers at the royal palace Saturday.
As a top leader during the 1975-1979 Khmer Rouge regime, Ieng Sary was implicated in the deaths of as many as two million Cambodians through starvation, overwork, disease and executions.
Victims included intellectuals, rich peasants, city dwellers, many members of Sihanouk's family and even fervent Khmer Rouge supporters whom the leaders grew to mistrust or envy.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 27 linesby CNB