State of Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen called for nominal Khmer Rouge leader Khieu

Samphan to be tried for genocide following a spate of massacres of Vietnamese settlers.

"I suggested that Mr. Khieu Samphan be arrested and prosecuted for the crime

of genocide because he does not enjoy immunity when it comes to the crime of genocide,"

Hun Sen said after a meeting of Cambodia's Supreme National Council (SNC) in Phnom

Penh on Apr. 4.

"I think all these crimes fall into the categories defined in the U.N. convention

on prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide," he said, referring to

the Khmer Rouge's stated policy of racial cleansing and an attack in Kompong Thom

which left 29 Cambodian civilians dead and 30 others wounded.

"He is the boss. He has given orders to his soldiers to commit these crimes,"

Hun Sen said.

He said it would be impossible to go ahead [with the elections] if no action is taken

to halt the "Khmer Rouge's killing of Cambodian people."

He expressed concern about security for the May general election and called on the

United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) to clarify SOC's right

to military response in the face of attack by the Khmer Rouge.

"Must we withdraw or fight back? Because if we fight back we will be accused

of equally violating of the Paris agreement. But, if we withdraw it means that we

abandon the people who will take part in the elections," Hun Sen said.

The Khmer Rouge has been blamed for the massacre of more than 40 Vietnamese fishing

villagers over the past three weeks. It was also held responsible for two separate

attacks on U.N. peace-keepers which resulted in the death of one Bangladeshi in Siem

Reap and three Bulgarians in Kompong Speu province.