A foreign judge at the Khmer Rouge Crimes tribunal in Cambodia has announced his resignation over accusations of government interference.
Co-investigating German judge Seigfreid Blunk says he is stepping down because government officials repeatedly objected to further prosecutions linked to the former Khmer administration.
The possibility of political interference has long overshadowed
the tribunal but this is the first time that an international official has quit and explicitly cited the issue, the BBC reports.
Judge Blunk said that statements by the Cambodian Prime Minister, the Information Minister and Foreign Minister opposing further prosecutions would be perceived as government interference.
The judge said he was resigning so there would be no doubts over his independence or the integrity of the investigation process.