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| DRC 'warlords' ICC trial to open | DRC 'warlords' ICC trial to open |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The trial of two alleged Congolese militia leaders charged with war crimes is due to begin at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. | The trial of two alleged Congolese militia leaders charged with war crimes is due to begin at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. |
| Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui are accused of directing an attack on a village in 2003 in which more than 200 people were killed. | Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui are accused of directing an attack on a village in 2003 in which more than 200 people were killed. |
| They face charges of ordering attacks on civilians, sexual slavery, rape, and enlisting child soldiers. | They face charges of ordering attacks on civilians, sexual slavery, rape, and enlisting child soldiers. |
| Both deny the charges and have expressed sympathy for the victims. | Both deny the charges and have expressed sympathy for the victims. |
| It is only the second trial at the ICC in The Hague. The first case - of Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga - began in 2008 but has been delayed by legal argument. | It is only the second trial at the ICC in The Hague. The first case - of Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga - began in 2008 but has been delayed by legal argument. |
| ICC TRIAL Germain Katanga: Born 28 April 1978 in Mambassa, Ituri District. Alleged commander of Patriotic Resistance Force of Ituri (FRPI)Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui: Born 8 October 1970 in Bunia, Ituri District. Alleged leader of National Integrationist Front (FNI)ICC charges: War crimes include wilful killing, sexual slavery, attacking civilians, pillaging and using child soldiers. Charged with murder and inhuman treatment. | |
| Prosecutors say Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui led two groups of child soldiers and militiamen who laid waste to Bogoro village in the mineral-rich Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). | Prosecutors say Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui led two groups of child soldiers and militiamen who laid waste to Bogoro village in the mineral-rich Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). |
| Many victims were hacked to death with machetes while women were raped and killed or taken as sexual slaves by their attackers, according to the charges. | Many victims were hacked to death with machetes while women were raped and killed or taken as sexual slaves by their attackers, according to the charges. |
| Chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has said that the conflict in Ituri was part of a civil war that raged in DR Congo following the 1994 genocide in neighbouring Rwanda. | Chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has said that the conflict in Ituri was part of a civil war that raged in DR Congo following the 1994 genocide in neighbouring Rwanda. |
| Prosecutors plan to call 26 witnesses although 21 of them will testify hidden from public view for fear of reprisals. | Prosecutors plan to call 26 witnesses although 21 of them will testify hidden from public view for fear of reprisals. |
| The trial is expected to take several months. | The trial is expected to take several months. |