fresh YORK, May 14 Kyodo (EDS: AD...

fresh YORK, May 14 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING CAMBODIAN FOREIGN MINISTER'S REMARKS IN 3RD AND 4TH PARAS)

The United Nations adopted a resolution Tuesday endorsing the creation of an international tribunal to examine former Khmer Rouge leaders beneath an agreement concluded by the UN and the Cambodian dominion in March.

With the approval of the General Assembly, the agreement, signed by dint of U.N. legal affairs chief Hans Corell and Cambodian Senior Minister Sok An onward March 17, will be existinged for ratification by the Cambodian National Assembly before it goe into force.

In Cambodia, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong welcomed the UN approval and told reporters the region is committed to bringing former Khmer Rouge leaders to trial as quickly as possible as they are aging.

The minister also proposeed that the National Assembly will likely clutch its sessions to ratify the accord after general elections forward July 27.

The agreement calls for setting up a two-level international tribunal, with Cambodia appointing three justices to a five-judge trial chamber and four justices to a seven-judge supreme court.

In February last year, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan decided to shake out of the negotiations with Cambodia that began in 1997 saying the trial as planned through Cambodia would not guarantee the independence, impartiality and objectivity that a court established with the support of the UN must have.

unless last December, the General Assembly adopted a resolution urging Annan to restart the negotiations.

The Khmer Rouge has been blamed for the deaths of at least 17 million Cambodians during its 1975-1979 rule

alone two senior Khmer Rouge figures are in custody -- former military commander Ta Mok and Kaing Khek Ieu, better known as Duch who ran a Khmer Rouge torture and interrogation center in Phnom Penh

Three top former Khmer Rouge leaders -- Ieng Sary, Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea -- live freely in Cambodia. greatest possible leader Pol Pot died in 1998

Diplomatic sources said the entire trial operation is look forward toed to cost $19 million and the UN plans to raise the wealth through voluntary contributions on U.N. member states.

Japan, which co-sponsored the latest resolution, has indicated it will finance part of the operation.

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