两名年迈的前红色高棉领导人被判定反人类罪名成立，并被判处终身监禁。35年前，共产主义组织红色高棉的血腥统治造成柬埔寨将近四分之一人口死亡。
联合国支持的法庭星期四判定83岁的前红色高棉国家元首乔森潘和88岁的前红色高棉意识形态首脑农谢的谋杀、政治迫害以及其他非人道行为罪名成立。
在首席法官尼嫩宣读法庭判决时，乔森潘和农谢表情平静。
乔森潘和农谢是目前还在世的前红色高棉最高级官员。他们否认有任何不当行为，声称他们或者对有关罪行并不了解，或者没有权力加以阻止。
法庭驳回了他们的申辩。法庭指出，乔森潘身为国家元首，意味着他了解柬共的政策。法庭还发现，农谢在柬共内部行使“最终决定权”。
乔森潘和农谢的律师说，他们将提出上诉。但法官们说，鉴于罪行严重，两名被告将继续收监。
乔森潘和农谢的案子与数百万柬埔寨人1975年被迫离开金边去农村劳动营有关。从上周开始的第二阶段审判的重点是包括种族灭绝在内的其他指控。
在1975年至1979年红色高棉统治期间，多达200万柬埔寨人死于饥饿、过度工作和处决。红色高棉试图建立一个社会主义乌托邦。
Two aging Khmer Rouge leaders have been convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison, three-and-a-half decades after the communist group's bloody rule left nearly a quarter of the Cambodian population dead.
A United Nations-backed tribunal ruled Thursday 83-year-old ex-head of state Khieu Samphan and 88-year-old former chief ideologue Nuon Chea were guilty of murder, political persecution and other inhumane acts.
Neither showed any emotion as chief judge Nil Nonn read the court's decision.
The men, who are the two most senior living Khmer Rouge ex-officials, denied any wrongdoing, saying they either did not know about the crimes or had no power to stop them.
The court rejected this argument. It said Khieu Samphan's position as head of state meant he was aware of the policy of the Communist Party of Kampuchea. It also found Nuon Chea exercised "ultimate decision-making" in the party."
Lawyers for both men say they will appeal the rulings. But judges say the two will remain jailed because of the gravity of the crimes.
The current case against the two leaders relates to the 1975 forced expulsion of millions of Cambodians from Phnom Penh to rural working camps. A second phase of the tribunal, which began last week, focuses on other charges, including genocide.
