Prosecutor: ex-Congo VP used rape as weapon

[cali]

By ARTHUR MAX, Associated Press Writer Arthur Max, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 17 mins ago AP –

AFP THE HAGUE, Netherlands – War crimes prosecutors accused former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba on Monday of using systematic rape to terrorize civilians suspected of supporting rebels during a bloody power struggle in neighboring Central African Republic.

Defense attorneys argued that Bemba's troops were not under his command once they crossed the border, and that the prosecution failed to show that Bemba ordered his men to commit atrocities during the upheavals of 2002-2003.

The two sides outlined their arguments at a pretrial hearing at the International Criminal Court meant to assess whether there is enough evidence to put Bemba on trial. Judges scheduled four days of hearings, then have 60 days to decide whether to commit him to trial, seek more evidence or let him go.

In an opening statement, deputy prosecutor Fatou Bensouda previewed graphic testimony from one man who said he was sodomized in front of his family, then was forced to watch his wife and children abused.

"Bemba wanted to traumatize and terrorize the civilian population so they would not support the rebels," Bensouda said. "He chose rape as his method."

Bemba, founder of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo, is accused of eight counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including torture and murder, during a five-month conflict that began in October 2002.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090112/ap_on_re_eu/eu_war_crimes_bemba

[LeftishBrit]

1. Sickening.

[acmavm]

2. Real tough guy, that one.

:sarcasm: