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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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| First S Leone war crimes verdicts | First S Leone war crimes verdicts |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Three men have been convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Sierra Leone's decade-long war. | Three men have been convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity during Sierra Leone's decade-long war. |
| These were the first verdicts of Sierra Leone's UN-backed war crimes tribunal. | These were the first verdicts of Sierra Leone's UN-backed war crimes tribunal. |
| Alex Tamba Brima, Brima Kamara and Santigie Borbor Kanu were senior members of an armed faction that toppled the government in 1997. | Alex Tamba Brima, Brima Kamara and Santigie Borbor Kanu were senior members of an armed faction that toppled the government in 1997. |
| They were found guilty of 11 of the 14 charges, but acquitted of alleged sexual slavery and other inhuman acts. The men will be sentenced on 16 July. | They were found guilty of 11 of the 14 charges, but acquitted of alleged sexual slavery and other inhuman acts. The men will be sentenced on 16 July. |
| The judges read out their verdicts before a packed courtroom. The three men face lengthy prison terms. | The judges read out their verdicts before a packed courtroom. The three men face lengthy prison terms. |
| During the conflict tens of thousands were killed as the rebel forces raped and mutilated defenceless innocent civilians. | During the conflict tens of thousands were killed as the rebel forces raped and mutilated defenceless innocent civilians. |
| The US-based Human Rights Watch hailed the verdict as "the first time that an international court has issued a verdict on child recruitment". | |
| Important step | Important step |
| The three had pleaded not guilty to the 14 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity including murder, rape and the use of child soldiers. | The three had pleaded not guilty to the 14 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity including murder, rape and the use of child soldiers. |
| The AFRC teamed up with the other rebels after 1997They belonged to the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), which formed an alliance with the notorious Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels. | The AFRC teamed up with the other rebels after 1997They belonged to the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), which formed an alliance with the notorious Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels. |
| As the rebel groups attempted to hold power they were allegedly backed by the former president of Liberia, Charles Taylor, in return for Sierra Leone's diamonds. | As the rebel groups attempted to hold power they were allegedly backed by the former president of Liberia, Charles Taylor, in return for Sierra Leone's diamonds. |
| Following the end of the conflict five years ago, a UN-backed court was set up to try those people who bore the greatest responsibility for the atrocities committed. | Following the end of the conflict five years ago, a UN-backed court was set up to try those people who bore the greatest responsibility for the atrocities committed. |
| Trying all those who committed crimes would have been an impossible task says the BBC's West Africa correspondent, Will Ross. | Trying all those who committed crimes would have been an impossible task says the BBC's West Africa correspondent, Will Ross. |
| So now many in Sierra Leone live side-by-side with the very people they saw committing atrocities. | So now many in Sierra Leone live side-by-side with the very people they saw committing atrocities. |
| Cases | |
| The court has indicted 12 people, including Charles Taylor. | |
| He is currently in The Hague, where his war crimes trial is due to resume next week. His case was moved there to avoid unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia. | |
| The head of the AFRC rebels was never apprehended but is presumed dead. | The head of the AFRC rebels was never apprehended but is presumed dead. |
| The most notorious rebel leader, the RUF's Foday Sankoh, died in custody while awaiting trial. | |
| Another high profile figure, former Interior Minister Sam Hinga Norman, died after surgery with his verdict pending. | |
| It may be slow and expensive but many view the court's work as an important step to help end impunity, our correspondent says. | It may be slow and expensive but many view the court's work as an important step to help end impunity, our correspondent says. |