Thousands gather for burial of former Khmer Rouge chief

Former Khmer Rouge chief Ta Mok, who died last week, is due to be buried in Cambodia.

More than 3,000 people have travelled to the former rebel stronghold of Anlong Veng to view Ta Mok's corpse, which has been laid out for the public since Saturday.

The former military commander, who briefly led the Khmer Rouge during its final days - and was awaiting trial for his role in Cambodia's genocide - died on Friday, aged 80, in the capital Phnom Penh.

Cambodian and foreign judges have been tasked with prosecuting former leaders of the regime in a tribunal that opened earlier this month, but the first trials are not expected until mid-2007.

Ta Mok was one of only two former regime leaders in jail awaiting prosecution.

An estimated two million people died from execution, exhaustion and starvation during the rule of the Khmer Rouge.

- RADIO AUSTRALIA