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| S Leone militia leaders convicted | S Leone militia leaders convicted |
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| Sierra Leone's UN-backed war crimes court has found two ex-leaders of a pro-government militia guilty of crimes committed during the 10-year civil war. | Sierra Leone's UN-backed war crimes court has found two ex-leaders of a pro-government militia guilty of crimes committed during the 10-year civil war. |
| But Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa were acquitted on some charges of crimes against humanity. | But Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa were acquitted on some charges of crimes against humanity. |
| The case has been controversial as some saw the Civil Defence Force (CDF) as defending civilians against the rebels during the conflict that ended in 2002. | The case has been controversial as some saw the Civil Defence Force (CDF) as defending civilians against the rebels during the conflict that ended in 2002. |
| Some 50,000 people were killed and many more maimed and raped during the war. | Some 50,000 people were killed and many more maimed and raped during the war. |
| Skinned alive | |
| Fofana and Kondewa had pleaded not guilty to eight counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. | Fofana and Kondewa had pleaded not guilty to eight counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. |
| Thousands were raped and mutilated during the war | |
| Sentence will be passed at an unspecified date in the future, AFP news agency reports. | Sentence will be passed at an unspecified date in the future, AFP news agency reports. |
| The judgment detailed some of the crimes carried out by the pro-government militia, which included the skinning alive of a man. | |
| Kondewa was also found guilty of the use of child soldiers. | |
| The BBC's West Africa correspondent Will Ross says the judges' verdicts were by no means unanimous. | |
| One judge found both men not guilty on all eight counts. | |
| The trial of the CDF leaders has been controversial from the start, our correspondent says. | |
| In many Sierra Leoneans' eyes the CDF - also known as the Kamajor militia - fought for a noble cause, to defend the population against brutal rebel groups such as the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). | |
| When the head of Kamajors, Sam Hinga Norman, was indicted four years ago there was public outcry. He has since died in custody. | |
| Criticism | |
| The court's special prosecutor, Stephen Rapp, described the trial as very challenging and admitted the indictments had been controversial. | |
| He said while the accused had been motivated by a desire to restore an elected government, the crimes which the trial uncovered could not be justified. | |
| The Special Court for Sierra Leone originally indicted a total of 13 people in connection with the war, including the former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who is accused of backing the rebels. | The Special Court for Sierra Leone originally indicted a total of 13 people in connection with the war, including the former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who is accused of backing the rebels. |
| Last month it handed down its first sentences against three senior members of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, which toppled the government in 1997. | Last month it handed down its first sentences against three senior members of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, which toppled the government in 1997. |
| 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. |
| Mr Taylor's trial is being conducted in The Hague because of fears that trying him in West Africa could jeopardise the new-found peace of Liberia and Sierra Leone. | Mr Taylor's trial is being conducted in The Hague because of fears that trying him in West Africa could jeopardise the new-found peace of Liberia and Sierra Leone. |
| Critics say the UN-backed court has been too slow in delivering justice to the people of Sierra Leone. | Critics say the UN-backed court has been too slow in delivering justice to the people of Sierra Leone. |
| Three of those indicted, including RUF leader Foday Sankoh and Mr Hinga Norman, died before their verdicts were delivered. | Three of those indicted, including RUF leader Foday Sankoh and Mr Hinga Norman, died before their verdicts were delivered. |