Khmer Rouge tribunal judges rejected two appeals by Khieu Samphan Friday, extending his provisional detention ahead of an atrocity crimes trial and rejecting a request for his release.

The decision, read by Prak Kimsan, chief judge of the Pre-Trial Chamber of the UN-backed court, ordered Khieu Samphan to be held in provisional detention until Nov. 19, 2009.

The former head of state for the Khmer Rouge, Khieu Samphan, 78, is facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the regime, under whose policies up to 2 million Cambodians died.

He was arrested Nov. 19, 2007, at his home in Pailin, where he had lived in relative freedom among former cadre and victims of the regime. Tribunal investigating judges ordered a one-year extension of his detention in November 2008.

The Pre-Trial Chamber found that his detention remained necessary to protect Khieu Samphan’s security and to “preserve public order.”

Sar Savann, one of Khieu Samphan’s defense lawyers, said Friday the decision “abused the law and Khieu Samphan’s rights.”