The United Nations on Thursday \"strongly urged\" the Cambodian government not to meddle in the work of a UN-backed Khmer Rouge court after a judge quit citing political opposition to two new cases. \"The Legal Counsel strongly urged the royal government of Cambodia to refrain from statements opposing the progress of cases 003 and 004 and to refrain from interfering in any way whatsoever with the judicial process,\" said UN under-secretary general for legal affairs Patricia O\'Brien in a statement. The high-ranking UN official was speaking after meeting Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in Phnom Penh amid mounting concern over political pressure on the tribunal.