Hot on Facebook

Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Sierra Leone Tribunal Convicts 3

War crimes court first to rule against use of child soldiers

By Caroline Zimmerman, Newser User

Posted Jun 20, 2007 4:14 PM CDT

(Newser) – The UN-backed Sierra Leone war crimes tribunal handed down its first verdicts today, convicting three leaders of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The rebel leaders face lengthy prison terms after being convicted of 11 of 14 charges, including murder, rape, and the recruitment of child soldiers during the civil war in Sierra Leone.

Today’s verdicts marked the first definitive ruling against the use of child soldiers in an international court. But the ultimate test comes next week, when the trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor gets underway in the Hague. Five others, including Taylor, still face trial for their roles in the blood-diamond civil war that killed over 50,000 in Sierra Leone.

[Images (7)]

[Videos (1)]

Pepole pass 29 January 2007 by a billboard supporting former... (Getty Images)

TO GO WITH AFP ENTERTAINMENT-BRITAIN-FILM-NGO-DIAMONDS STORY... (Getty Images)

Liberian gravediggers debate the Charles Taylor trial after listening to it on the radio as they wait for work in a cemetery in central Monrovia, Liberia Monday, June 4, 2007. At the Liberian capital's... (Associated Press)

Liberians watch CNN coverage of the opening of former President Charles Taylor's trial in a shop in central Monrovia, Liberia Monday, June 4, 2007. Taylor boycotted and his assigned lawyer walked out... (Associated Press)

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor leaves after officially handing over the power of the presidency to his Vice President Moses Blah, in a Monday, Aug 11, 2003 file photo, at the Executive Mansion... (Associated Press)

Hassan Bah, 49, who lost his arm eight years ago during the conflict period in Sierra Leone, sits at his house on the outskirts of Freetown, Sierra Leone, in this Tuesday, April 4, 2006 file photo. A... (Associated Press)

o/Schalk van Zuydam) (Associated Press)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

UN War Crimes Court - Sierra Leone (csantora (YouTube))

View larger videos >>

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Warlord Moves to Block Campbell Testimony

Taylor accused of giving model 'blood diamond'

(NEWSER) - Supermodels aren't often called as witnesses at war crimes tribunals, and Liberian strongman Charles Taylor's lawyers want to keep it that way. They're seeking to block Naomi Campbell from being subpoenaed to appear at Taylor's trial to testify about a "blood diamond" she allegedly received from the warlord at a dinner in South Africa in 1997, ABC News reports. More»

'Blood Diamonds' Trial Opens

War crimes court pleads for cash in case against former Liberian president

(NEWSER) - The war crimes trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor is set to begin in The Hague after months of costly delays—forcing the court to ask for financial handouts to complete the proceedings. Taylor, 59, trained Sierra Leone's notoriously violent Revolutionary United Front in exchange for "blood diamonds," so called because of their cost in human lives, He is charged with crimes against humanity, murder and rape. More»

Charles Taylor Skips War Crimes Trial

Former President of Liberia accused of atrocities in Sierra Leone

(NEWSER) - Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia, didn't show up for the opening of his war-crimes trial in The Hague today, the BBC reports. He is accused of fostering a long bloody civil war in Sierra Leone marked by crimes against humanity, terrorism, rape and the use of child soldiers. The trial is the first of an African former head of state. More»

Naomi Testifies About Blood Diamonds

Yeah, they probably came from Charles Taylor, model says at his war crimes trial

(NEWSER) - Naomi Campbell may not like to talk about it , but she did, in fact, receive a gift of diamonds probably from former Liberian President Charles Taylor, she said today at his war crimes trial. Campbell testified that two men gave her a pouch containing a few “very small, dirty-looking stones” following a Nelson Mandela-hosted dinner in 1997, the AP reports . Her agent and Mia Farrow clued her in that the “gift” was diamonds, most likely from Taylor. More»

Ex-Liberian Prez: War-Crimes Charges 'Lies'

Taylor calls himself 'lover of humanity'

(NEWSER) - Former Liberian president Charles Taylor took the stand today in the Hague, calling war-crimes allegations against him “lies,” the BBC reports. “It is very, very, very unfortunate that the prosecution, because of disinformation, misinformation, lies, rumors would associate me with such titles or descriptions,” he said regarding accusations of terrorism, torture, murder, and rape. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Sierra Leone Tribunal Convicts 3