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| First S Leone war crime sentences | First S Leone war crime sentences |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Sierra Leone's UN-backed war crimes court has sentenced three leaders of a militia for war crimes including murder, rape and mutilating civilians. | Sierra Leone's UN-backed war crimes court has sentenced three leaders of a militia for war crimes including murder, rape and mutilating civilians. |
| Alex Tamba Brima and Santigie Borbor Kanu were jailed for 50 years each and Brima Kamara for 45 years. | Alex Tamba Brima and Santigie Borbor Kanu were jailed for 50 years each and Brima Kamara for 45 years. |
| All three were senior members of an armed faction that toppled the government in 1997. | All three were senior members of an armed faction that toppled the government in 1997. |
| They are the first sentences given by the court, following the end of Sierra Leone's civil war five years ago. | They are the first sentences given by the court, following the end of Sierra Leone's civil war five years ago. |
| All three defendants have the right to appeal. If they lose they are likely to serve their prison sentences in Europe rather than Sierra Leone because of security concerns, court officials said. | |
| The court has indicted a total of 12 people in connection with the war, including the former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who is accused of backing the rebels. |