Former Khmer Rouge prison chief Duch on Nov. 27 unexpectedly asked Cambodia's UN-backed war crimes court to acquit and release him on the final day of his nine-month trial.

Following the inquiry of judges, Duch's Cambodian lawyer Kar Savuth confirmed the request, saying that Duch wanted to be acquitted on the grounds that he was not a senior member of the Khmer Rouge hierarchy.

A day earlier, the Khmer Rouge victims’ association protested strongly when international prosecutor Bill Smith proposed the court hand down a 40-year imprisonment sentence to Duch, who had commanded the jail, called Tuol Sleng or S-21.

The association’s president Chum Midel said Duch should be hanged for crimes he had committed. However, as Cambodia has no death penalty, Duch must be imprisoned for life, he said.

Meanwhile, French defence lawyer Francois Roux reminded the court to pay attention to extenuating circumstances, saying Duch had showed his repentance and that he only carried out orders by superiors.

Duch, whose real name is Kaing Guek Eav, is the first prominent Khmer Rouge cadre to go on trial at the court, which is expected to return a verdict in early 2010.

Other defendants, including Ieng Sary and his wife Ieng Thirith, Khieu Samphan and Nuol Chia will be brought to trial in late 2010 or early 2011./.