More encouraging news that the war crimes tribunal for former Khmer Rouge leaders in Cambodia may finally be drawing closer.

BBC News Online reports that the former head of state in the Khmer Rouge government, Khieu Samphan, has been seeking legal help.

Samphan was the public face of the Khmer Rouge and the group's top negotiator and chief propagandist. After the collapse of the regime he is believed to have led a guerilla movement after Pol Pot stepped back from the spotlight and played only an advisory role.

He is seeing out his dotage rearing ducks near the border with Thailand. Like the rest of the KR heirarchy he has never answered for his actions in court. Finally, belatedly, he might.