ICC to pursue Bemba war crimes trial

The Hague, 19 Oct-(ANA)-The International Criminal Court (ICC) has agreed to pursue the war crimes trial of DR Congo's former Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba.

An appeals panel at the court in The Hague rejected an appeal from his lawyers to dismiss the case.

Mr Bemba's lawyers had argued he had already been investigated in Central African Republic (CAR) and could not be prosecuted twice for the same crime.

Mr Bemba is accused of leading militias in neighbouring CAR in 2002 and 2003.

The troops are accused of intervening in a power struggle in CAR, using murder and rape to terrorise civilians.

But Mr Bemba has argued that he was not in command of the militia after it crossed the border.

ICC appeals judge Anita Usacka said the chamber confirmed the decision of a court hearing in June that the trial was admissible, and dismissed Mr Bemba's appeal.

Mr Bemba was arrested in Belgium in 2008 and extradited to The Hague. (ANA)

FA/ANA/19 October 2010-------