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| S Leone militia leaders convicted | S Leone militia leaders convicted |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Sierra Leone's UN-backed war crimes court has found two ex-leaders of a pro-government militia guilty of crimes committed during the 10-year civil war. | Sierra Leone's UN-backed war crimes court has found two ex-leaders of a pro-government militia guilty of crimes committed during the 10-year civil war. |
| Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa were convicted for murder, cruel treatment, pillage and collective punishments. | Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa were convicted for murder, cruel treatment, pillage and collective punishments. |
| The case has been controversial as some saw the Civil Defence Force (CDF) as defending civilians against the rebels during the conflict that ended in 2002. | The case has been controversial as some saw the Civil Defence Force (CDF) as defending civilians against the rebels during the conflict that ended in 2002. |
| Some 50,000 people were killed and many more maimed and raped during the war. | Some 50,000 people were killed and many more maimed and raped during the war. |
| Child soldiers | Child soldiers |
| Fofana and Kondewa had pleaded not guilty to eight counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and serious violations of international humanitarian law. | Fofana and Kondewa had pleaded not guilty to eight counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and serious violations of international humanitarian law. |
| CDF CONVICTIONS Murder and violence (war crime): Both guilty Violence to life and mental suffering (war crime): Both guilty Pillage (war crime): Both guilty Collective punishment (war crime): Both guilty Murder (crime against humanity): Both acquitted Inhumane acts (crime against humanity): Both acquitted Acts of terrorism (war crime): Both acquitted Recruiting child soldiers: Kondewa guilty; Fofana acquitted class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/3547345.stm">Q&A: War crimes tribunal | |
| Sentence will be passed at an unspecified date in the future. | Sentence will be passed at an unspecified date in the future. |
| The judgement detailed some of the crimes carried out by the pro-government militia. | The judgement detailed some of the crimes carried out by the pro-government militia. |
| These included an order to destroy an entire village and consider all people found there as rebels who must be killed. | These included an order to destroy an entire village and consider all people found there as rebels who must be killed. |
| Kondewa was also found guilty of the use of child soldiers. Fofana was acquitted on this count. | Kondewa was also found guilty of the use of child soldiers. Fofana was acquitted on this count. |
| They were both acquitted on all counts of crimes against humanity and of acts of terrorism, considered a war crime. | They were both acquitted on all counts of crimes against humanity and of acts of terrorism, considered a war crime. |
| The BBC's West Africa correspondent Will Ross says the judges' verdicts were by no means unanimous. | The BBC's West Africa correspondent Will Ross says the judges' verdicts were by no means unanimous. |
| One judge found both men not guilty on all eight counts. | One judge found both men not guilty on all eight counts. |
| The trial of the CDF leaders has been controversial from the start, our correspondent says. | The trial of the CDF leaders has been controversial from the start, our correspondent says. |
| In many Sierra Leoneans' eyes the CDF - also known as the Kamajor militia - fought for a noble cause, to defend the population against brutal rebel groups such as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). | In many Sierra Leoneans' eyes the CDF - also known as the Kamajor militia - fought for a noble cause, to defend the population against brutal rebel groups such as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). |
| When the head of Kamajors, Sam Hinga Norman, was indicted four years ago there was public outcry. He has since died in custody. | When the head of Kamajors, Sam Hinga Norman, was indicted four years ago there was public outcry. He has since died in custody. |
| Criticism | Criticism |
| The special court's prosecutor, Stephen Rapp, has described the trial as "very challenging" and admitted the indictments had been controversial. | The special court's prosecutor, Stephen Rapp, has described the trial as "very challenging" and admitted the indictments had been controversial. |
| Thousands were raped and mutilated during the war | Thousands were raped and mutilated during the war |
| He said while the accused had been motivated by a desire to restore an elected government, the crimes which the trial uncovered could not be justified. | He said while the accused had been motivated by a desire to restore an elected government, the crimes which the trial uncovered could not be justified. |
| The Special Court for Sierra Leone originally indicted a total of 13 people in connection with the war, including the former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who is accused of backing the rebels. | The Special Court for Sierra Leone originally indicted a total of 13 people in connection with the war, including the former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who is accused of backing the rebels. |
| Last month it handed down its first sentences against three senior members of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, which toppled the government in 1997. | Last month it handed down its first sentences against three senior members of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, which toppled the government in 1997. |
| Alex Tamba Brima and Santigie Borbor Kanu were jailed for 50 years each, and Brima Kamara for 45 years. | Alex Tamba Brima and Santigie Borbor Kanu were jailed for 50 years each, and Brima Kamara for 45 years. |
| Mr Taylor's trial is being conducted in The Hague because of fears that trying him in West Africa could jeopardise the new-found peace of Liberia and Sierra Leone. | Mr Taylor's trial is being conducted in The Hague because of fears that trying him in West Africa could jeopardise the new-found peace of Liberia and Sierra Leone. |
| Critics say the UN-backed court has been too slow in delivering justice to the people of Sierra Leone. | Critics say the UN-backed court has been too slow in delivering justice to the people of Sierra Leone. |
| Three of those indicted, including RUF leader Foday Sankoh and Mr Hinga Norman, died before their verdicts were delivered. | Three of those indicted, including RUF leader Foday Sankoh and Mr Hinga Norman, died before their verdicts were delivered. |