DHAKA: An UN-backed tribunal of Cambodia on Thursday ordered two top Khmer Rouge leaders have been jailed for life after being convicted of crimes against humanity.

Nuon Chea served as Pol Pot’s deputy and Khieu Samphan was the Maoist regime’s head of state.

They are the first top-level leaders to be held accountable for its crimes, reports the BBC.

Up to two million people are believed to have died under the Khmer Rouge - from starvation and overwork or executed as enemies of the state.

The regime, in power from 1975-1979, sought to create an agrarian society.

Cities were emptied and their residents forced to work on rural co-operatives. Many were worked to death while others starved as the economy imploded.

During four violent years, the Khmer Rouge also killed all those it perceived as enemies - intellectuals, minorities, former officials - and their families.

Nuon Chea was seen an ideological driving force within the regime. Khieu Samphan was its public face.

Prosecutors argued that they formulated policy and were complicit in its brutal execution.

Over three years the court has heard from some of those who lost entire families to the regime.

Though, both men denied the charges against them. In closing statements last year, they expressed remorse but said they had neither ordered deaths nor been aware of them.

**Khmer Rouge war crimes verdict due

BDST: 1034 HRS, AUG 7, 2014