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Sierra Leone RUF rebels sentenced Sierra Leone RUF rebels sentenced
(about 2 hours later)
An international tribunal has jailed three former Sierra Leone rebel leaders for a total of more than 100 years. An international tribunal has jailed three former Sierra Leone rebel leaders for a total of nearly 120 years.
All three were senior leaders in the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and were convicted of overseeing atrocities during Sierra Leone's civil war.All three were senior leaders in the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and were convicted of overseeing atrocities during Sierra Leone's civil war.
Issa Sesay was sentenced to 52 years, Morris Kallon to 29 years and Augustine Gbao to 25 years. Issa Sesay was sentenced to 52 years, Morris Kallon to 40 years and Augustine Gbao to 25 years.
They were found guilty in February of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the 1991-2001 conflict.They were found guilty in February of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the 1991-2001 conflict.
Tactics favoured by the rebels included amputating hands and arms or carving the initials RUF into the bodies of their victims.Tactics favoured by the rebels included amputating hands and arms or carving the initials RUF into the bodies of their victims.
It is the last case to be held in the capital, Freetown, at the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone.It is the last case to be held in the capital, Freetown, at the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone.
The RUF trial began in mid-2004 and the court heard how the rebel leaders were involved in the rape, mutilation and killings of civilians.The RUF trial began in mid-2004 and the court heard how the rebel leaders were involved in the rape, mutilation and killings of civilians.
The RUF was notorious for using the so-called Small Boys Units - child soldiers forcibly recruited and issued with AK-47 assault rifles - who had a reputation for particular cruelty among the civilian population.The RUF was notorious for using the so-called Small Boys Units - child soldiers forcibly recruited and issued with AK-47 assault rifles - who had a reputation for particular cruelty among the civilian population.
By the time the conflict ended, some 120,000 people had been killed while tens of thousands were left mutilated, their arms, legs, noses or ears cut off. By the time the conflict ended, tens of thousands of people had been killed while tens of thousands were left mutilated, their arms, legs, noses or ears cut off.
Thirteen people were originally indicted by the tribunal, but RUF rebel leader Foday Sankoh and his deputy commander Sam Bockarie died before coming to trial.Thirteen people were originally indicted by the tribunal, but RUF rebel leader Foday Sankoh and his deputy commander Sam Bockarie died before coming to trial.