The Khmer Rouge tribunal on Friday dismissed appeals by three suspects against the extension of their pre-trial detention. The suspects – former Khmer Rouge foreign minister Ieng Sary, former social action minister Ieng Thirith and former head of state Khieu Samphan – are currently serving their third year of provisional detention after their arrests in November 2007. Under the court’s internal rules, if they have not been indicted after three years of detention, they must be released on bail. The Pre-Trial Chamber judges deemed Ieng Sary a flight risk, adding that public order and his own personal security could be jeopardised by his release. His wife, Ieng Thirith, was also deemed a flight risk, and the judges added that her release could lead to the destruction of evidence or witness intimidation. Khieu Samphan’s continued detention was deemed necessary to preserve public order and for his own security.