Four reporters from the English-language newspaper the Cambodia Daily were called

to Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Jan 23 to respond to allegations by Foreign Minister

Hor Namhong that the newspaper had libeled him.

The Foreign Minister initiated the libel proceedings in reaction to a pair of articles

printed in the Daily that suggested that he had been a member of the Khmer Rouge

and was a potential defendant in a future Khmer Rouge tribunal.

The articles made reference to Hor Namhong's behavior during his period of internment

at the Khmer Rouge "re-education camp" of Boeng Trabek. Although former

inmates have stated that Namhong played a supervisory role at the camp, there is

apparently no evidence suggesting he was a member of the Khmer Rouge (i.e. CPK).

It is unclear if or when the court will officially agree to initiate libel proceedings.

Cambodia Daily staff declined comment on the matter.