This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8201263.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Court gives bail to Congo's Bemba | Court gives bail to Congo's Bemba |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The International Criminal Court (ICC) has ordered the conditional release of Congolese ex-Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba ahead of his war crimes trial. | |
| However, the court said he would not be freed until it was decided which country would host him. | However, the court said he would not be freed until it was decided which country would host him. |
| Mr Bemba, who led a rebel group during the Democratic Republic of Congo's civil war, was arrested in Belgium last year and extradited to The Hague. | Mr Bemba, who led a rebel group during the Democratic Republic of Congo's civil war, was arrested in Belgium last year and extradited to The Hague. |
| The charges relate to unrest in the Central African Republic. | The charges relate to unrest in the Central African Republic. |
| Mr Bemba says his troops were not under his command once they crossed the border into CAR to help then-President Ange-Felix Patasse put down a coup attempt in 2002. | Mr Bemba says his troops were not under his command once they crossed the border into CAR to help then-President Ange-Felix Patasse put down a coup attempt in 2002. |
| After a peace deal in DR Congo in 2003, Mr Bemba laid down his arms and joined an interim government as vice-president. | After a peace deal in DR Congo in 2003, Mr Bemba laid down his arms and joined an interim government as vice-president. |
| Conditions | Conditions |
| An ICC statement said a pre-trial chamber had found that Mr Bemba's continued detention was not necessary: | An ICC statement said a pre-trial chamber had found that Mr Bemba's continued detention was not necessary: |
| JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA Son of famous businessmanFormer assistant to former Zaire leader 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 Warlord trial gives victims hope Profile: Jean-Pierre Bemba Timeline: DR Congo | JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA Son of famous businessmanFormer assistant to former Zaire leader 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 Warlord trial gives victims hope Profile: Jean-Pierre Bemba Timeline: DR Congo |
| • To ensure his appearance at his trial | • To ensure his appearance at his trial |
| • To ensure he did not hamper court proceedings | • To ensure he did not hamper court proceedings |
| • Or to prevent him "from continuing with the commission of the same or related crimes". | • Or to prevent him "from continuing with the commission of the same or related crimes". |
| The court said hearings to decide which country would take Mr Bemba and to decide on the conditions of his release would be held in the second week of September. | The court said hearings to decide which country would take Mr Bemba and to decide on the conditions of his release would be held in the second week of September. |
| In June, a pre-trial panel of judges found that there was sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that Mr Bemba was "criminally responsible" for murders, rapes and pillaging. | In June, a pre-trial panel of judges found that there was sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that Mr Bemba was "criminally responsible" for murders, rapes and pillaging. |
| Fighters from his Movement for the Liberation of Congo were accused of committing these atrocities when they intervened in the conflict in CAR. | Fighters from his Movement for the Liberation of Congo were accused of committing these atrocities when they intervened in the conflict in CAR. |
| He is to face trial on three counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity. | He is to face trial on three counts of war crimes and two of crimes against humanity. |
| One of his defence lawyers has suggested that the charges may be politically motivated, to remove Mr Bemba from future elections in DR Congo. | One of his defence lawyers has suggested that the charges may be 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 later fled the country after being charged with treason after his bodyguards clashed with the army in 2007. | He later fled the country after being charged with treason after his bodyguards clashed with the army in 2007. |