Sierra Leone Judge elected Head of UN war crimes tribunal

New York, 04 Nov-(ANA)-A Sierra Leonean judge has been elected the new President of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the United Nations-backed war crimes tribunal set up to deal with atrocities committed during the long and brutal civil war in the country.

Justice Jon Kamanda was elected to a one-year term as the Presiding Judge of the appeals chamber, a post which automatically makes him the SCSL’s President as well, according to a press release issued today by the court from Freetown, the capital.

Justice Emmanuel Ayoola of Nigeria was elected as Vice-President, the press release added.

Justice Kamanda succeeds Justice Renate Winter of Austria, who had served as President since May last year. (ANA)

FA/ANA/04 November 2009---