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Court hears of Bemba 'war crimes' Court hears of Bemba 'war crimes'
(about 1 hour later)
War crimes judges have begun hearing evidence against a militia commanded by former Democratic Republic of Congo Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba.War crimes judges have begun hearing evidence against a militia commanded by former Democratic Republic of Congo Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba.
His Movement for the Liberation of Congo intervened in a power struggle in neighbouring Central African Republic in 2002 and 2003.His Movement for the Liberation of Congo intervened in a power struggle in neighbouring Central African Republic in 2002 and 2003.
The International Criminal Court pre-trial hearings involve claims of murder and rape. Mr Bemba denies all charges.The International Criminal Court pre-trial hearings involve claims of murder and rape. Mr Bemba denies all charges.
He says his troops were not under his command once they crossed the border.He says his troops were not under his command once they crossed the border.
His lawyers told judges in the Netherlands there was not enough evidence against Mr Bemba to proceed to trial.His lawyers told judges in the Netherlands there was not enough evidence against Mr Bemba to proceed to trial.
But in an opening statement, deputy prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told the court of graphic testimony from one man who said he had been raped in front of his family, then forced to watch his wife and children abused.But in an opening statement, deputy prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told the court of graphic testimony from one man who said he had been raped in front of his family, then forced to watch his wife and children abused.
Mr Bemba is the most high-profile of four Congolese warlords facing trial at the ICC.
Coup attemptsCoup attempts
"Bemba wanted to traumatise and terrorise the civilian population so they would not support the rebels," AP news agency quoted the prosecutor as saying. "Bemba wanted to traumatise and terrorise the civilian population so they would not support the rebels," the prosecutor said.
"He chose rape as his method." JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA Son of famous businessmanFormer assistant to Mobutu Sese Seko1998: Helped by Uganda to former MLC rebel group2003: Becomes vice-president under peace deal2006: Loses run-off election to President Joseph Kabila but gets most votes in western DR Congo2007: Flees after clashes in Kinshasa class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7767902.stm">Warlord trial gives victims hope class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6085536.stm">Profile: Jean-Pierre Bemba
"He chose rape as his main method... rapes against mothers in the presence of their children and rapes of children as their parents were forced to watch."
Mr Bemba, 46, was arrested in Belgium last May and extradited to The Hague in July.Mr Bemba, 46, was arrested in Belgium last May and extradited to The Hague in July.
Judges have scheduled four days of hearings, then they have 60 days to decide whether to commit Mr Bemba to trial, seek more evidence or free him.Judges have scheduled four days of hearings, then they have 60 days to decide whether to commit Mr Bemba to trial, seek more evidence or free him.
He denies three counts of crimes against humanity and five counts of war crimes, during a five-month conflict that began in October 2002.He denies three counts of crimes against humanity and five counts of war crimes, during a five-month conflict that began in October 2002.
Ange-Felix Patasse, then President of the Central African Republic, had asked Mr Bemba's militia to put down coup attempts in his country which eventually succeeded. Mr Bemba's defence lawyer Karim Khan said the troops had been sent to shore up the legitimate president of the CAR, Ange-Felix Patasse, who therefore bore responsibility for their actions.
Mr Bemba, a former rebel leader, became DR Congo's vice-president in 2003 under a power-sharing deal intended to end years of conflict. Another defence lawyer, Nkwebe Liriss, said that many Africans believed the charges were politically motivated, to remove Mr Bemba from future elections in DR Congo.
He lost a landmark run-off election against President Joseph Kabila in 2006.He lost a landmark run-off election against President Joseph Kabila in 2006.
He fled the country after being charged with treason after his bodyguards clashed with the army in 2007.He fled the country after being charged with treason after his bodyguards clashed with the army in 2007.
Mr Bemba, a former rebel leader, became DR Congo's vice-president in 2003 under a power-sharing deal intended to end years of conflict.