Head of Cambodian delegation on Khmer Rouge court talks meets with Annan

The head of the Cambodian delegation meeting with United Nations officials in talks to explore the possibility of establishing a special court to try former Khmer Rouge leaders for crimes against humanity met today with Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Senior Minister Sok An, the head of Cambodia's Council of Ministers, held a brief meeting with the Secretary-General this afternoon, according to a UN spokesman.

The exploratory talks on establishing Extraordinary Chambers to deal with trials of Khmer Rouge leaders were suspended today for technical reasons, Fred Eckhard said, although the two sides did meet on Saturday afternoon, the fifth such encounter since the exploratory meetings began last Monday. Legal Counsel Hans Corell leads the UN delegation.

Asked if the talks have been completed, Mr. Eckhard said the delegations had allowed for the possibility of another meeting after the Secretary-General meets Mr. Sok An. "My sense is that they have not yet concluded their discussions," he said. "I think we have to wait for [the talks] to definitively wrap up."