By Guy De Launey
BBC News, Phnom Penh
Lawyers for Cambodia's former foreign minister have
called for the removal of the judge investigating his role in the
Khmer Rouge era.
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Ieng Sary is charged with crimes against humanity for his part
in the deaths of as many as two million people in the late
1970s.
His defence team claims the judge at the UN-backed Khmer Rouge
tribunal, Marcel Lemonde, is biased.
The controversy is the latest in a series of problems to hit the
tribunal.
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'One-sided investigation'
The defence team's claims are based on a sworn statement by a
former member of the investigating judge's staff.
Wayne Bastin accused his boss, Mr Lemonde, of instructing his
team to concentrate on finding only incriminating evidence.
Under the rules of the tribunal, the investigating judges are
supposed to be impartial - and should also seek out evidence which
might exonerate defendants.
Mr Bastin admitted that Ieng Sary's defence team had encouraged
him to make the statement.
But he insisted that he had enjoyed a good working relationship
with Judge Lemonde - and only came forward because he felt "morally
and ethically" obliged.
Ieng Sary's lawyers said the investigating judge had "trampled
over" the rights of their client.
The tribunal's pre-trial chamber will now rule on whether Mr
Lemonde should be disqualified.
It has already rejected two attempts to disqualify court
officials on the grounds of bias.
Progress in the case against Ieng Sary and his three
co-defendants has been slow.
But closing statements in the trial of a former Khmer Rouge
prison chief are expected next month.