KHMER Rouge radio denied on Sunday, September 1 a report that guerillas had executed

British demining expert Christopher Howes.

The radio controlled by hardliners of the movement said the Khmer Rouge "was

never involved in this story" and rejected reports that guerillas had killed

any foreigner.

Howes who was working with Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and his interpreter, Houn Hourth,

were abducted in Siem Reap on March 26.

They were believed to have been taken to Anlong Veng base commanded by Ta Mok.

The denial from the Khmer Rouge radio came after The Bangkok Post quoted a Khmer

Rouge officer as saying Howes had been executed.

According to the officer, among the hardliners, the alleged murder was linked to

a rebellion by dissidents in a Pol Pot camp.

The same report said that one of two Cambodians seized with Howes had died of malaria,

but Houn Hourth was the only known Cambodian captive.

In Siem Reap, officials could not confirm the information.

Prom Sanein, deputy commander of fourth military region had heard nothing new on

the 36-year-old Briton.

Hen Bun Heng, second deputy governor said he had received no information that Howes

had been killed.

A MAG official said that as far as the organisation was concerned the latest development

was still an unconfirmed report, while a British diplomat said the embassy was trying

to corroborate the report.

Since 1993 elections, Khmer Rouge have abducted at least seven westeners and are

known to have killed six of them.