A war crimes court has found three Sierra Leone rebel commanders guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
A war crimes court has found three Sierra Leone rebel commanders guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
RUF leaders Issa Sesay, 38, and Morris Kallon, 45, were convicted of 16 of the 18 charges, while Augustine Gbao, 60, was found guilty on 14 of the counts.
RUF leaders Issa Sesay, 38, and Morris Kallon, 45, were convicted of 16 of the 18 charges, while Augustine Gbao, 60, was found guilty on 14 of the counts.
The Freetown trial of the RUF rebel leaders, related to Sierra Leone's 10-year civil war, began in mid-2004.
The Freetown trial of the RUF rebel leaders, related to Sierra Leone's 10-year civil war, began in mid-2004.
The court had heard how the trio were involved in the rape, mutilation and murder of civilians.
The court had heard how the trio were involved in the rape, mutilation and murder of civilians.
It was the last case to be held at the special court.
It was the last case to be held at the special court.
The BBC's Umaru Fofana at the court in Freetown said as the verdicts were delivered Sesay looked very serious and Kallon, clad in a smart light green suit, could have been mistaken for one of the lawyers, while Gbao buried his face in his hands and looked very dejected.
The BBC's Umaru Fofana at the court in Freetown said as the verdicts were delivered Sesay looked very serious and Kallon, clad in a smart light green suit, could have been mistaken for one of the lawyers, while Gbao buried his face in his hands and looked very dejected.
The three committed atrocities during the 1991-2001 civil war as senior commanders of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
The three committed atrocities during the 1991-2001 civil war as senior commanders of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
According to the indictment, the rebel chiefs were involved in a joint criminal enterprise with former Liberian President Charles Taylor to control the diamond fields of Sierra Leone to finance their warfare.
According to the indictment, the rebel chiefs were involved in a joint criminal enterprise with former Liberian President Charles Taylor to control the diamond fields of Sierra Leone to finance their warfare.
The trial heard harrowing tales from 75 prosecution witnesses of rapes and killings at the hands of the RUF.
The trial heard harrowing tales from 75 prosecution witnesses of rapes and killings at the hands of the RUF.
Tens of thousands of civilians had limbs, noses or ears chopped off
Tens of thousands of civilians had limbs, noses or ears chopped off
Tactics favoured by the rebels included amputating hands and arms or carving the initials RUF into the bodies of their victims.
Tactics favoured by the rebels included amputating hands and arms or carving the initials RUF into the bodies of their victims.
The RUF was notorious for using the so-called Small Boys Units - child soldiers forcibly recruited and issued with AK-47 assault rifles - who had a reputation for particular cruelty among the civilian population.
The RUF was notorious for using the so-called Small Boys Units - child soldiers forcibly recruited and issued with AK-47 assault rifles - who had a reputation for particular cruelty among the civilian population.
By the time the conflict ended, some 120,000 people had been killed while tens of thousands were left mutilated, their arms, legs, noses or ears cut off.
By the time the conflict ended, some 120,000 people had been killed while tens of thousands were left mutilated, their arms, legs, noses or ears cut off.
The only trial still ongoing before the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone is that of Mr Taylor, whose case has been moved to The Hague for security reasons.
The only trial still ongoing before the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone is that of Mr Taylor, whose case has been moved to The Hague for security reasons.
The Sierra Leone conflict was depicted in the 2006 film Blood Diamond, starring Djimon Hounsou, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Connelly.
The Sierra Leone conflict was depicted in the 2006 film Blood Diamond, starring Djimon Hounsou, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Connelly.
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