<P> While Vietnam proposed to withdraw from Cambodia in return for a political settlement that would exclude the Khmer Rouge from power, the rebel coalition government, as well as ASEAN, China, and the US, insisted that such a condition was unacceptable . Nevertheless, in 1985 Vietnam declared that it would complete the withdrawal of its forces from Cambodia by 1990, and it did so in 1989, having allowed the government that it had installed there to consolidate its rule and gain sufficient military strength . </P> <P> After a decade of inconclusive conflict, the pro-Vietnamese Cambodian government and the rebel coalition signed a treaty in 1991 calling for elections and disarmament . In 1992, however, the Khmer Rouge resumed fighting, boycotted the election and, in the following year, rejected its results . It now fought the new Cambodian coalition government which included the former Vietnamese - backed Communists (headed by Hun Sen) as well as the Khmer Rouge's former non-Communist and monarchist allies (notably Prince Rannaridh). In July 1994 a "Provisional Government of National Union and National Salvation of Cambodia" was established by Khmer Rouge authorities . </P> <P> There was a mass defection from the Khmer Rouge in 1996, when around half of its remaining soldiers (about 4,000) left . In 1997, a conflict between the two main participants in the ruling coalition caused Prince Rannaridh to seek support from some of the Khmer Rouge leaders, while refusing to have any dealings with Pol Pot . This resulted in bloody factional fighting among the Khmer Rouge leaders, ultimately leading to Pol Pot's trial and imprisonment by the Khmer Rouge . Pol Pot died in April 1998 . Khieu Samphan surrendered in December . </P> <P> On December 29, 1998, the remaining leaders of the Khmer Rouge apologized for the 1970s genocide . By 1999, most members had surrendered or been captured . In December 1999, Ta Mok and the remaining leaders surrendered, and the Khmer Rouge effectively ceased to exist . Most of the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders live in the Pailin area or are hiding in Phnom Penh . </P>

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