Prime Minister Hun Sen told reporters September 25 it was untrue that he had sought

the "disappearance" of three senior Khmer Rouge leaders in 1998. The denial

came after publication in the Post last issue of a purported record of a meeting

between Hun Sen and then Thai Prime Minister Leekpai. Notes of that meeting reveal

Hun Sen raised the question of Thai assistance in making Ta Mok, Nuon Chea and Khieu

Samphan "disappear".

Hun Sen acknowledged discussions took place, but denied Leekpai's aide was present.

He said the documents had probably been published for political purposes. "I

had raised my proposal to him that he should arrest and send [the KR leaders] to

me, but if he could not arrest them then he should chase them to the border where

Cambodia would be waiting to arrest them," Hun Sen said of the meeting. Leekpai

had earlier told Thai media that he did not recall the conversation.