This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-34122613
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| DR Congo's Bosco Ntaganda pleads not guilty at ICC trial | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Former Congolese rebel leader Bosco Ntaganda has pleaded not guilty to all charges at the start of his war crimes trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague. | |
| The 18 charges include murder, rape and the recruitment of child soldiers. | |
| More than 2,000 victims have been cleared to take part in the trial, including former child soldiers who will be called as witnesses. | More than 2,000 victims have been cleared to take part in the trial, including former child soldiers who will be called as witnesses. |
| Gen Ntaganda fought for different rebel groups as well as the Congolese army. | Gen Ntaganda fought for different rebel groups as well as the Congolese army. |
| He stood in the dock, with his signature pencil moustache, making his not guilty plea in a barely audible voice, reports the BBC's Anna Holligan from court. | |
| The start of the trial was a historic moment for international justice and for the Democratic Republic of Congo, in what is is the biggest and most complex case in the ICC's history, our correspondent adds. | |
| The 41-year-old is accused of killing at least 800 civilians during separate attacks on a number of villages between 2002 and 2003. | The 41-year-old is accused of killing at least 800 civilians during separate attacks on a number of villages between 2002 and 2003. |
| He is also accused of raping girl soldiers and keeping them as sex slaves. | He is also accused of raping girl soldiers and keeping them as sex slaves. |
| In 2013, he handed himself in at the US embassy in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. | In 2013, he handed himself in at the US embassy in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. |
| He had evaded capture for seven years after the ICC first issued warrants for his arrest. | He had evaded capture for seven years after the ICC first issued warrants for his arrest. |
| Bosco Ntaganda was part of the Union of Congolese Patriots rebel group, led by Thomas Lubanga who in 2014 became the only person convicted by the ICC. | Bosco Ntaganda was part of the Union of Congolese Patriots rebel group, led by Thomas Lubanga who in 2014 became the only person convicted by the ICC. |
| Gen Ntaganda was one of the leaders of the M23 rebel movement, which had fought government troops until signing a peace deal in 2013. | Gen Ntaganda was one of the leaders of the M23 rebel movement, which had fought government troops until signing a peace deal in 2013. |
| Eastern DR Congo has suffered two decades of violence linked to ethnic rivalries and competition for the control of the area's rich mineral resources. | Eastern DR Congo has suffered two decades of violence linked to ethnic rivalries and competition for the control of the area's rich mineral resources. |
| The unrest began when some of the ethnic Hutu militants accused of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda fled into DR Congo. | The unrest began when some of the ethnic Hutu militants accused of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda fled into DR Congo. |
| Who is Bosco Ntaganda? | Who is Bosco Ntaganda? |
| Profile: Bosco Ntaganda the Congolese 'Terminator' |