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Clashes in Bangladesh ahead of Azam war crimes verdict Bangladesh Islamist Ghulam Azam found guilty of war crimes
(35 minutes later)
Police in Bangladesh have clashed with supporters of the Jamaat-e-Islami party as a tribunal delivers its verdict in the trial of an Islamist leader charged with war crimes. A war crimes court has found Islamist Ghulam Azam guilty of five charges relating to Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence with Pakistan.
Ghulam Azam, 91, is accused of orchestrating atrocities during the country's 1971 war of independence. Ghulam Azam was sentenced to 90 years in jail for his involvement in mass killings and rape during the war.
He denies the charges, which supporters say are politically motivated. Prosecutors want the death penalty. Supporters of Bangladesh's main Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party, which he led from 1969 until 2000, clashed with police ahead of the verdict.
Previous verdicts against Islamist leaders have led to violent protests. It is the fifth sentence passed against current and former party leaders.
This would be the fifth sentence passed on current and former leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, the country's main Islamist party, by a controversial special tribunal. The court found Mr Azam, 90, guilty of five charges including conspiracy, incitement, planning, abetting and failing to prevent murder.
He faced more than 60 counts of crimes against humanity for his role in setting up militia groups which carried out atrocities during the war.
He denied the charges, which his supporters say were politically motivated.
Previous verdicts against Islamist leaders have also led to violent protests.
The International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh was set up by the current Awami League-led government in 2010 to try alleged collaborators of the Pakistani army during Bangladesh's war of independence.The International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh was set up by the current Awami League-led government in 2010 to try alleged collaborators of the Pakistani army during Bangladesh's war of independence.
Human rights groups have said the tribunal falls short of international standards.Human rights groups have said the tribunal falls short of international standards.
Spiritual leaderSpiritual leader
Prosecutors say Mr Azam should receive the death penalty for his role in setting up violent militia groups that killed and raped thousands of people. Prosecutors say Mr Azam should have received the death penalty for his role in setting up violent militia groups that killed and raped thousands of people.
He is accused of planning, conspiracy, incitement, complicity and murder in more than 60 counts of crimes against humanity.
But his defence lawyers say the charges are based only on newspaper reports of Mr Azam's speeches at the time, and none have been proved.But his defence lawyers say the charges are based only on newspaper reports of Mr Azam's speeches at the time, and none have been proved.
Jamaat has called for a general strike in protest.Jamaat has called for a general strike in protest.
Mr Azam was the party's leader from 1969 until 2000 and is seen by many as its spiritual leader.Mr Azam was the party's leader from 1969 until 2000 and is seen by many as its spiritual leader.
Described by his party colleagues as a writer and Islamic thinker, Mr Azan was strongly opposed to Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan, arguing at the time that it would divide the Muslim community.Described by his party colleagues as a writer and Islamic thinker, Mr Azan was strongly opposed to Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan, arguing at the time that it would divide the Muslim community.
Police reportedly fired rubber bullets to disperse Jamaat-e-Islam supporters protesting in Dhaka and several other cities on Monday.Police reportedly fired rubber bullets to disperse Jamaat-e-Islam supporters protesting in Dhaka and several other cities on Monday.
Journalists were among those injured in the violence in the Dhalpur district of Dhaka, police say.Journalists were among those injured in the violence in the Dhalpur district of Dhaka, police say.
More than 100 people have been killed since January in political violence sparked by verdicts handed down by the International Crimes Tribunal.More than 100 people have been killed since January in political violence sparked by verdicts handed down by the International Crimes Tribunal.
Human rights groups have said the tribunal falls short of international standards.Human rights groups have said the tribunal falls short of international standards.
The BBC's Mahfuz Sadique in Dhaka says there is broad support in Bangladesh for the crimes committed during its liberation war to be punished.The BBC's Mahfuz Sadique in Dhaka says there is broad support in Bangladesh for the crimes committed during its liberation war to be punished.
But these trials have shown that coming to terms with the country's bloody inception has proven difficult for Bangladeshis, our correspondent adds.But these trials have shown that coming to terms with the country's bloody inception has proven difficult for Bangladeshis, our correspondent adds.
The exact number of people killed during Bangladesh's nine-month war of secession is unclear: official Bangladeshi figures suggest as many as three million people died, but independent researchers suggest the death toll was around 500,000.The exact number of people killed during Bangladesh's nine-month war of secession is unclear: official Bangladeshi figures suggest as many as three million people died, but independent researchers suggest the death toll was around 500,000.