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| Museveni rejects Hague LRA trial | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni says leaders of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) should face local justice, rather than trial at The Hague. | |
| Three LRA leaders including leader Joseph Kony face prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC). | Three LRA leaders including leader Joseph Kony face prosecution at the International Criminal Court (ICC). |
| The LRA insists that the war crimes indictments are lifted before signing a deal to end the long, brutal conflict. | |
| The 22-year rebellion in northern Uganda has left thousands dead and nearly two million displaced. | |
| What we have agreed with our people is that they should face traditional justice, which is more compensatory than a retributive system President Yoweri Museveni How to punish rebels | What we have agreed with our people is that they should face traditional justice, which is more compensatory than a retributive system President Yoweri Museveni How to punish rebels |
| Peace negotiations between the government and LRA have been mediated for the past 18 months in South Sudan's capital, Juba. | Peace negotiations between the government and LRA have been mediated for the past 18 months in South Sudan's capital, Juba. |
| Mr Kony has sent his representatives to the talks but has refused to attend them himself, fearing arrest. | Mr Kony has sent his representatives to the talks but has refused to attend them himself, fearing arrest. |
| He remains in a jungle hideout in the remote north-east of Democratic Republic of Congo. | He remains in a jungle hideout in the remote north-east of Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| The rebels have been notorious for abducting children to be used as fighters, porters and sex slaves. | The rebels have been notorious for abducting children to be used as fighters, porters and sex slaves. |
| Apology | Apology |
| Mr Museveni said in London that local tribal elders had asked for local justice to be applied, rather than a trial at the ICC in The Hague. | Mr Museveni said in London that local tribal elders had asked for local justice to be applied, rather than a trial at the ICC in The Hague. |
| "What we have agreed with our people is that they should face traditional justice, which is more compensatory than a retributive system," Mr Museveni told the AP news agency. | "What we have agreed with our people is that they should face traditional justice, which is more compensatory than a retributive system," Mr Museveni told the AP news agency. |
| "If that's what the community wants, then why would we insist" on a trial in The Hague, he said. | "If that's what the community wants, then why would we insist" on a trial in The Hague, he said. |
| An arrangement is currently being negotiated between the government and rebels. | An arrangement is currently being negotiated between the government and rebels. |
| Under this, the LRA leaders could be required to apologise for their actions and make a payment to local elders, but they would avoid prison sentences. | Under this, the LRA leaders could be required to apologise for their actions and make a payment to local elders, but they would avoid prison sentences. |
| In 2005, the ICC charged five LRA commanders with war crimes and crimes against humanity - two have since been killed. | In 2005, the ICC charged five LRA commanders with war crimes and crimes against humanity - two have since been killed. |
| The arrest warrants were issued at the request of the Ugandan government before peace negotiations began with the rebels. | The arrest warrants were issued at the request of the Ugandan government before peace negotiations began with the rebels. |
| Almost two million people have fled their homes | Almost two million people have fled their homes |
| Last week, ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo refused to meet LRA representatives and said the indictments remained in place. | Last week, ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo refused to meet LRA representatives and said the indictments remained in place. |
| The ICC was set up six years ago as the world's first permanent war crimes court. | The ICC was set up six years ago as the world's first permanent war crimes court. |
| Correspondents say Mr Museveni's decision puts the court in an awkward position, for if it does decide to drop the arrest warrants it could be accused of bowing to political pressure. | Correspondents say Mr Museveni's decision puts the court in an awkward position, for if it does decide to drop the arrest warrants it could be accused of bowing to political pressure. |
| If it does not, it risks upsetting Uganda's delicate peace process. | If it does not, it risks upsetting Uganda's delicate peace process. |