The UN-backed war crimes tribunal in Cambodia has indicted four former Khmer Rouge leaders. Nuon Chea, deputy to Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot, will stand trial next year, along with former head of state Khieu Samphan, former Foreign Minister Ieng Sary and his wife Ieng Thirith. They are accused of genocide, torture and religious persecution. The trial of these four leaders, who have been in detention since 2007, is expected to start by the middle of next year, the tribunal said. All four are now elderly, with 84-year-old Ieng Sary in bad health. His 78-year-old wife, who was the Khmer Rouge's social affairs minister, will be the first woman to face the tribunal. All the four have rejected the charges against them.