Alleged warlord facing international criminal court trial

Judges at the International Criminal Court today ordered an alleged 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.

A three-judge chamber found 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.