[JURIST] Cambodia and the United Nations moved closer to beginning genocide trials for Khmer Rouge leaders with an announcement Friday that the UN-backed tribunal will begin setting up offices next month. A list of Cambodian and international candidates to serve as judges and prosecutors will be unveiled later in December. No former leader of the communist Khmer Rouge [Wikipedia backgrounder] regime, considered responsible for the genocide of the "killing fields" in Cambodia [Yale CGP backgrounder] after taking power in the 1970s, has ever faced trial. Funding for the trial had been an issue for Cambodia, one of Asia's poorest nations. International support was needed [JURIST report] to help get proceedings started. Reuters has more.

Previously in JURIST's Paper Chase…

• Cambodia requests more funding for Khmer Rouge tribunal
• Cambodia accepts Japanese offer to help fund Khmer Rouge trials
• Cambodian PM opposes private funds for Khmer Rouge genocide trial
• Cambodian opposition calls for public contributions to Khmer Rouge trials fund
• Cambodians urge speedy Khmer Rouge genocide trials
• Cambodian group calls for evidence against Khmer Rouge regime
• UN pledges put Khmer Rouge war crimes court on track
• Khmer Rouge war crimes tribunal approved by Cambodian parliament