Phnom Penh  - The German government announced it is increasing its support for the trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders in a press release on the embassy website received Tuesday.

Germany said it had pledged an additional 4.3 million dollars for the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) 2009 and 2010.

"This significant contribution from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has already been announced to United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon," the press release stated.

"The German Government regards the Khmer Rouge Tribunal as an important step towards trying the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge during their reign from 1975 to 1979 and bringing to justice those responsible.

Furthermore the German commitment is linked with the expectation that the tribunal ... will become a model for the development of the legal system and legal culture in Cambodia."

It said the new donation brings direct German government support of the joint UN-Cambodian sponsored tribunal to about 10 million dollars in total, and Germany is also sponsoring a number of indirect support programmes.

It is the second-largest sponsor of the trials behind Japan.

Five former Khmer Rouge leaders are currently in custody for crimes they allegedly committed during their 1975-79 regime, during which up to 2 million Cambodians perished.

The first trial hearings are expected within months, according to court officials. (dpa)