The former "first lady" of Cambodia's murderous Khmer Rouge regime, Ieng Thirith, died Saturday, according to a UN-backed tribunal which stayed its trial of her in 2012 on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity due to her ill health.

"The accused passed away at approximately 10.30am on 22 August in Pailin, Cambodia," the tribunal said in a statement. The case against her was suspended after the court ruled dementia had left her unfit to stand trial.