Congolese warlord to stand trial at international court

Judges at the International Criminal Court on Monday ordered a Congolese warlord to be tried on charges he recruited child soldiers and sent them into battle, making him the first suspect to stand trial at the permanent war crimes court based in The Hague.

A three-judge chamber found the evidence was strong enough to "establish substantial grounds to believe" that Thomas Lubanga was responsible "for war crimes consisting of enlisting and conscripting children under the age of 15," said presiding Judge Claude Jorda of France.

The children were forced to take part in armed conflicts, the court found, issuing its findings from a lengthy preliminary hearing in November on the prosecution's charges.

Lubanga faces three charges of recruiting and deploying child soldiers in the bloody conflict in the Ituri region of eastern Congo in 2002-03. He faces a maximum life sentence if convicted.

Jorda said that during fighting, some children "were led to kill, and many recruits, including minors under the age of 15, lost their lives in battle."

Lubanga, 46, denies the charges.

Prosecutors expect the landmark trial to start later this year.

Established in 1998, the ICC became effective in July 2002 after the requisite 60 countries ratified its statute, including Canada.

Theinternationalcourtdoesn't replace national courts, but will investigate and prosecute atrocities such as genocide and crimes against humanity if national courts are unwilling to do so.

The United States has not ratified the ICC's statute, saying it is concerned its citizens would be unfairly singled out by the court. India and China also oppose the statute.