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Jean-Pierre Bemba: DR Congo ex-warlord guilty of war crimes | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has found former Congolese rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba guilty of war crimes in a trial at the Hague. | |
Mr Bemba was accused of failing to stop his rebels from killing and raping people in neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) in 2002 and 2003. | |
He had sent more than 1,000 fighters to help put down an attempted coup. | He had sent more than 1,000 fighters to help put down an attempted coup. |
Mr Bemba, once Vice-President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, will remain in custody until sentencing. | |
It is the first time the court has focussed on sexual violence as a weapon of war. | |
It is alleged that for a period of five months Mr Bemba's Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) rebel fighters killed hundred of civilians, raped women and looted. | It is alleged that for a period of five months Mr Bemba's Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) rebel fighters killed hundred of civilians, raped women and looted. |
His lawyers argued that once the troops had crossed the border they were no longer under his command, but under the then CAR President Ange-Felix Patasse. | |
Mr Bemba led the MLC during DR Congo's brutal civil war. | Mr Bemba led the MLC during DR Congo's brutal civil war. |
After a peace deal in DR Congo in 2003, he laid down his arms and joined an interim government. | After a peace deal in DR Congo in 2003, he laid down his arms and joined an interim government. |
He lost a run-off election against President Joseph Kabila in 2006. | He lost a run-off election against President Joseph Kabila in 2006. |
Mr Bemba was living in Belgium when he was arrested in 2008 to stand trial. | Mr Bemba was living in Belgium when he was arrested in 2008 to stand trial. |
Jean-Pierre Bemba: | Jean-Pierre Bemba: |
Profile: Jean-Pierre Bemba | Profile: Jean-Pierre Bemba |