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| Congo death sentences condemned | Congo death sentences condemned |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The sentencing to death of three people for the murder of a journalist in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been widely condemned. | The sentencing to death of three people for the murder of a journalist in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been widely condemned. |
| Serge Maheshe, a respected 31-year-old reporter with UN-backed Radio Okapi, was shot dead in Bukavu in June 2007. | Serge Maheshe, a respected 31-year-old reporter with UN-backed Radio Okapi, was shot dead in Bukavu in June 2007. |
| The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, denounced irregularities in the trial. | The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, denounced irregularities in the trial. |
| Meanwhile, three members of the Bundu dia Kongo sect have also been condemned to death for murder and rebellion. | |
| Fifteen other members of the group were given prison sentences ranging from two months to 20 years. | Fifteen other members of the group were given prison sentences ranging from two months to 20 years. |
| Defence lawyers say they will appeal. | Defence lawyers say they will appeal. |
| The group, based in the western province of Bas-Congo, has been fighting a bloody campaign for many years. | The group, based in the western province of Bas-Congo, has been fighting a bloody campaign for many years. |
| It says it wants to re-establish a pre-colonial Kongo kingdom in parts of the DR Congo, the Republic of Congo, Angola and Gabon. | It says it wants to re-establish a pre-colonial Kongo kingdom in parts of the DR Congo, the Republic of Congo, Angola and Gabon. |
| US-based Human Rights Watch has criticised the trial saying it had reports that confessions were obtained by torture. | US-based Human Rights Watch has criticised the trial saying it had reports that confessions were obtained by torture. |
| 'Threats' | 'Threats' |
| Ms Arbour said the military court which tried those accused of killing Mr Maheshe had refused to explore other credible leads or ask for ballistic expertise. | Ms Arbour said the military court which tried those accused of killing Mr Maheshe had refused to explore other credible leads or ask for ballistic expertise. |
| She criticised the use of military tribunals which continued to judge civilians in violation of international norms and the Congolese constitution. | She criticised the use of military tribunals which continued to judge civilians in violation of international norms and the Congolese constitution. |
| Reporters Without Borders, based in Paris, and its Congolese partner Journalists in Danger also criticised the trial. | Reporters Without Borders, based in Paris, and its Congolese partner Journalists in Danger also criticised the trial. |
| "There were no ballistic tests or autopsy. The defence lawyers and independent observers received anonymous threats. And certain hypotheses were deliberately ignored," the groups said. | "There were no ballistic tests or autopsy. The defence lawyers and independent observers received anonymous threats. And certain hypotheses were deliberately ignored," the groups said. |
| The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concern that the motives behind the murder remain unclear. | The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concern that the motives behind the murder remain unclear. |
| Serge Maheshe was the fourth journalist to be killed in DR Congo since 2005. | Serge Maheshe was the fourth journalist to be killed in DR Congo since 2005. |
| Correspondents say journalists in DR Congo often face threats and intimidation. | Correspondents say journalists in DR Congo often face threats and intimidation. |
| Radio Okapi is seen as one of the few sources of reliable news in the country, they say. | Radio Okapi is seen as one of the few sources of reliable news in the country, they say. |