International Court Starts First War Crimes Trial
-- Yahoo News/Reuters

THE HAGUE (Reuters) – A Congolese militia leader will be the first suspect to go on trial at the International Criminal Court on Monday, in a test of the credibility of the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal.

Thomas Lubanga, who founded and led the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) in Congo's eastern Ituri district, is accused of enlisting and conscripting children under the age of 15 to kill members of the Lendu ethnic group during the 1998-2003 war.

Ethnic violence in the Ituri region between the Hema and Lendu and clashes between militia groups vying for control of mines and taxation have killed 60,000 people since 1999.

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More News On War Crime Trials

Congolese warlord to go on trial at int'l court -- International Herald Tribune
A look at the International Criminal Court -- International Herald Tribune
DRC: ICC’s First Trial Focuses on Child Soldiers -- Human Rights Tribune
Rights groups hail trial of DRC warlord -- Afrique en lingne
Here comes the court -- Globe And Mail commentary