King Salman and Crown Prince congratulate Trump on winning US presidential election    Heavy Equipment and Truck Show to spotlight Tata Motors' cutting-edge mobility solutions    IKEA Alsulaiman opens Madinah store as part of an ambitious expansion plan in the Kingdom    Prince Badr signs MoUs with Al-Qasabi and Al-Falih to empower entrepreneurs and boost investments in cultural sector    Quality of life of Madinah residents and enriching visitor experience highlighted in Cairo event    Trump sweeps to historic victory as swing states turn red    Trump's claim of 'massive cheating' in Philadelphia rejected by officials    China is building new villages on its remote Himalayan border    Netanyahu fires Israeli Defense Minister after months of clashes over war and politics    Al Nassr secures 5-1 victory over Al Ain to edge closer to knockout stage    Saudi Deputy FM meets Lt. Gen. Al-Burhan of Sudan    Saudi Crown Prince, Japanese PM discuss over phone efforts made to achieve peace in the region    Neymar exits Al Hilal match with muscle injury, leaving fans disappointed    Saudi Arabia approves cooperation agreement with US for the use of outer space for peaceful purposes    Top climber falls to death after rare Himalayan feat    Mitrovic's hat-trick leads Al Hilal to 3-0 victory over Esteghlal    Al Ahli extends perfect start with 5-1 victory over Al Shorta    Quincy Jones, titan of US music, dies aged 91    Hidden sugars in Asia's baby food spark concerns    HONOR unveils pre-order of the stunning HONOR MagicBook Art 14 Featuring an ultra-slim design, HONOR Eye Comfort Display and AI Cross-OS WorkStation    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Sudan rebel appearsat ICC court in Hague
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 20 - 10 - 2009

International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors said Monday Sudanese Darfur rebel leader Bahr Idriss Abu Garda deliberately ordered the killing of 12 African Union peacekeepers, leaving civilians unprotected.
Abu Garda, 46, is the first Darfur rebel to appear before the ICC. He appeared voluntarily for a hearing to determine whether he should face trial on three war crimes charges over the attack on an AU peacekeeping base in September 2007.
Two other rebels have also been accused of involvement in the attack. Abu Garda, chairman of the United Resistance Front, has denied the charges. He is not yet in custody.
Deputy prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said the peacekeepers were sent to protect civilians from killings and rapes, to monitor peace and deliver aid, but were murdered by combined rebel forces under Abu Garda's control, in part for their equipment.
“They murdered peacekeepers, who were not killed accidentally. Nor were they killed in crossfire. Most of them were shot at close range. They were executed,” Bensouda told the three-judge chamber.
The AU peacekeepers, now a joint AU-UN force, have been unable to end fighting between government and rebel troops since hostilities erupted in 2003.
Abu Garda, wearing a grey suit and eyeglasses, is charged with murder, intentionally directing attacks against a peacekeeping mission and pillaging of vehicles, computers, phones, ammunition, money and military clothes and boots.
“A confirmation of charges hearing is not a trial, neither a mini trial nor a trial before a trial,” Presiding Judge Sylvia Steiner said, adding it is used to distinguish cases that should or should not go to trial.
Defense lawyer Karim Khan has not yet made his opening statement to the court.
Prosecutor Bensouda said about 1,000 rebels stormed the peacekeeping camp in 30 vehicles in the early evening using machine guns and rocket propelled grenades. The attack continued into the early morning.
She added that Abu Garda's forces had just split from Darfur's rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and they needed equipment and recognition as a fully fledged rebel force.
“International peacekeepers must be protected by more than just weapons and armour. They must be sheltered by all the power of international law,” Bensouda said.
Abu Garda will only be detained if the court decides there is enough evidence for a trial.


Clic here to read the story from its source.