Ieng Sary, the former Khmer Rouge foreign minister is in detention awaiting trial for his role in the Khmer Rouge crimes.PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - A former Khmer Rouge foreign minister returned to detention under Cambodia's U.N.-assisted genocide tribunal after spending nearly a week hospitalized for a urinary tract problem, officials said Sunday.
Ieng Sary was discharged from the hospital Saturday evening and returned to his cell at the tribunal's custom-built compound, said tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath.
Ieng Sary is one of five former high-ranking members of the Khmer Rouge who were taken into custody last year, and are now awaiting trial in connection with the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people through execution, overwork and starvation when the group held power from 1975-79.
Many victims of the Khmer Rouge have long feared some of the defendants, now aging and infirm, could die before facing trial.
"Doctors have told us he is fine, and he is now back in detention" at the tribunal, Reach Sambath said.
Ieng Sary's lawyer, Ang Udom, said his client's health condition "has improved."
Ieng Sary was hurried to Calmette Hospital — Cambodia's best medical facility — on Monday last week after urinating blood. It was the second hospital visit in 10 days by the 82-year-old former Khmer Rouge foreign minister, who also has a history of heart trouble.
Ieng Sary and his wife, Ieng Thirith, who was minister for social affairs in the Khmer Rouge government, are both held pending trial on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The couple have appealed against their detention, but the tribunal has not yet set dates for hearings.
Nuon Chea, the Khmer Rouge main ideologist, was confronted by a genocide survivor last week in a hearing on his appeal against pretrial detention. Judges are expected to announce a ruling on his appeal in coming days.
Ieng Sary was discharged from the hospital Saturday evening and returned to his cell at the tribunal's custom-built compound, said tribunal spokesman Reach Sambath.
Ieng Sary is one of five former high-ranking members of the Khmer Rouge who were taken into custody last year, and are now awaiting trial in connection with the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people through execution, overwork and starvation when the group held power from 1975-79.
Many victims of the Khmer Rouge have long feared some of the defendants, now aging and infirm, could die before facing trial.
"Doctors have told us he is fine, and he is now back in detention" at the tribunal, Reach Sambath said.
Ieng Sary's lawyer, Ang Udom, said his client's health condition "has improved."
Ieng Sary was hurried to Calmette Hospital — Cambodia's best medical facility — on Monday last week after urinating blood. It was the second hospital visit in 10 days by the 82-year-old former Khmer Rouge foreign minister, who also has a history of heart trouble.
Ieng Sary and his wife, Ieng Thirith, who was minister for social affairs in the Khmer Rouge government, are both held pending trial on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The couple have appealed against their detention, but the tribunal has not yet set dates for hearings.
Nuon Chea, the Khmer Rouge main ideologist, was confronted by a genocide survivor last week in a hearing on his appeal against pretrial detention. Judges are expected to announce a ruling on his appeal in coming days.
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