Nuon Chea (82), known as "Brother Number Two", claims his innocence and lack of knowledge of Khmer Rouge atrocities.? Read more in??this article?

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Khmer Rouge Brother Number Two Nuon Chea proclaimed his innocence when he appeared before Cambodia's U.N.-backed "Killing Fields" tribunal on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the court said on Friday.

According to a summary released two days after his indictment, Pol Pot's right-hand man said he bore no responsibility for the 1.7 million people thought to have died. Many were tortured and executed. Others died of starvation, overwork or disease.