US citizens charged in Cambodia

The gun battle shocked Phnom Penh

Thirty-eight Cambodians, including four American citizens, have been charged with terrorism following last week's attack on government buildings in Phnom Penh.

We see that these people are organised from abroad

Police chief Chin Chan Por

The defendants have also been charged with creating the US-based group which waged an hour-long gun battle with security forces outside the Ministry of Defence.

Court officials said three of the 38 were charged in absentia. They included Chhun Yasith, the leader of the Cambodian Freedom Fighters which the authorities are blaming for the attack.

Chhun Yasith, who is reported to live in California, has said he wants to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

His whereabouts are not known, but the government has said it will seek US help to arrest him.

Anti-communist

Another American citizen, Richard Kiri Kim, 51, who has lived mainly in Cambodia since 1993, is in custody.

The group was heavily armed

He was detained at the airport while trying to board a flight for Thailand on Saturday.

Kiri Kim has said he is the deputy commander of the Freedom Fighters, a previously obscure anti-communist group.

The other two Americans were named as Thong Samean and Prahit - their wherabouts are unknown.

Gun battle

Last week's gunbattle began when scores of men, armed with automatic rifles, grenades and rocket launchers, attacked the Defence Ministry, the Council of Ministers and a military barracks.

Initial reports said at least seven people had been killed, but the number was later revised down to four. Another dozen were injured.

I am worth $1m to them and Prime Minister Hun Sen is worth $7m

Prince Norodom Ranariddh

The violence was Phnom Penh's worst since 1997, when Hun Sen ousted Prince Norodom Ranariddh from power.

Police chief General Chin Chan Por said: "We see that these people are organised from abroad with Chhun Yasith a Khmer-American living in the US being the big boss."

Prosecutors said more people could be charged later.

Prince Ranariddh, president of the National Assembly, told the French AFP news agency on Wednesday that the rebels had put bounties on the heads of several senior figures.

"I am worth $1m to them and Prime Minister Hun Sen is worth $7m," he added.