PHNOM PENH (Cambodia) - ONE of the few survivors of the Khmer Rouge's deadliest torture centre gave a long-awaited testimony on Monday, weeping as he recounted life at the facility where 16,000 others were tortured before execution.

Mr Vann Nath, 63, escaped execution because he was an artist and took the job of painting and sculpting portraits of the Khmer Rouge's late leader, Pol Pot. His special status did not spare him misery.

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN authorities have intercepted five boats and detained more than 50 people, mostly Afghans and Pakistanis, as they tried to sneak out of the country and sail to neighbouring Indonesia, an official said Monday.

An increasing number of people from those impoverished countries pay human smugglers to transport them to Australia via Indonesia, using Malaysia as a starting point for the sea journey.

YANGON (Myanmar) - MYANMAR'S highest court rejected an appeal by lawyers of Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday to reinstate two key witnesses in a trial that has sparked global outrage.

The High Court upheld a lower court ruling, meaning Suu Kyi will be granted only two defence witnesses in her ongoing trial. She faces up to five years in prison if found guilty.