Khmer Rouge senior leader Ieng Sary dies

Former senior Khmer Rouge leader Ieng Sary has died, Cambodia's UN-backed court has announced.

The 87-year-old was on trial for genocide committed under the 1975-79 Maoist regime at the time of his death.

He served as the regime's foreign minister and was often the only point of contact between Cambodia's rulers and the outside world.

He and three co-defendants were accused of leading a campaign of mass murder in which up to two million people died.

"We can confirm that Ieng Sary died this morning after being hospitalised since 4 March," court spokesman Lars Olsen said.

Ieng Sary, who was also known as "Brother Number Three", went on trial in November 2011 along with "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea and former head of state Khieu Samphan. All three denied the charges.

His wife, Ieng Thirith, was also prosecuted, but was found incapable of standing trial because of ill health. She is thought to be suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Ieng Sary was the brother-in-law of the Khmer Rouge leader, "Brother Number One" Pol Pot, with whom he founded the organisation. Pol Pot died in 1998 while hiding in Cambodia's jungles.