The trial of Khmer Rouge leaders continues over atrocities that killed around 2 million Cambodians in the late 1970s.<br/> The Communist regime's deputy, Nuon Chea, denies committing the atrocities, telling a UN-backed tribunal the government was defending the country against Vietnam.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (Khmer) DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CAMBODIA, NUON CHEA, SAYING:<br/> "The policy of Democratic Kampuchea is we wanted to free Cambodia from being servants of another country. We wanted to build Cambodia into a clean and independent society, without any killing people or genocide."<br/> The prosecution says Nuon Chea and two other former top officials ordered mass exterminations of intellectuals, capitalists, Vietnamese and others perceived to be threats to the state.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (English) CO-PROSECUTOR ANDREW CAYLEY SAYING IN COURT:<br/> "These crimes were a result of organised crimes, developed by the accused and other CPK leaders, and systematically implemented through the regional, military and government they controlled."<br/> Prosecutors showed the court a video clip where he defends the killings.<br/> VIDEO CLIP SHOWN IN COURT OF EXCERPT FROM DOCUMENTARY "KILLING FIELDS" IN WHICH NUON CHEA SAYS (Khmer)<br/> "Believe me if these traitors were alive, the Khmers as a people would have been finished. So I dare to suggest our decision was the correct one."<br/> Victims' families, including one woman who lost her husband and children, watched the trial on monitors outside the courtroom.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (Khmer) SURVIVOR WHO LOST 10 FAMILY MEMBERS, SIN SINETH, SAYING:<br/> "I think the accused should be punished with life imprisonment, in order to compensate for the suffering of all victims."<br/> Many Cambodians have lost faith in the tribunal, which took more than a decade to establish and is expected to cost more than $150 million by the end of the year - but has so far handed down just one sentence.<br/> Rights groups say the trials have been marred by government interference and delays.<br/> Lindsey Parietti, Reuters
