PAILIN (Cambodia) - THE most senior surviving leader of the Khmer Rouge, 'Brother Number Two' Nuon Chea, was placed under house arrest on Wednesday and was expected to be moved to Phnom Penh soon, his son and officials said.

'Special forces, including police and military, came to surround my father's house early this morning,' Nuon Say, the son of Pol Pot's right-hand-man, said.

About 15 police officers, including a western security guard working for the United Nations-backed Khmer Rouge tribunal, blocked the path leading to his home in forests along the border with Thailand, Noun Say said. -- REUTERS