A RANYAPRATHET, Thailand-Shadowy Khmer Rouge guerrilla leader Pol Pot has moved to a northern Cambodian stronghold to boost morale after the setting up of a parallel government there, guerrilla sources said on July 23.

Until his recent move to Anlong Veng the reclusive KR leader had been posing as a gem trader in the western Cambodian guerrilla stronghold of Pailin, the sources said claiming to be close to Pol Pot.

There was no independent confirmation of their reports.

Pol Pot has been living in Pailin up to the time Cambodian government forces seized the gem-mining center in March, and returned with Khmer Rouge fighters when they retook the town a month later, they said.

Pol Pot called a meeting of top-level officials in Pailin four days before the KR announced the formation of a parallel government on July 10, they said.

Among the leaders who attended the meeting was nominal KR leader Khieu Samphan, and other known senior officials including Ieng Sary, Son Sen, Ta Mok, Noun Chea and Chan Youran, the sources said.

Pol Pot subsequently traveled to Anlong Veng, where the KR government is based, to boost morale, they said.