United Nations Wire

September 29, 2000

SIERRA LEONE: Proposals For War Crimes Court Expected Today

Sierra Leone has said it will submit proposals today to the UN Security Council for a special war crimes tribunal to try jailed former Revolutionary United Front (RUF) leader Foday Sankoh.

The court is being set up to try Sankoh and other rebels for committing atrocities after signing a civil war peace arrangement last year. It will be comprised of Sierra Leonean and international jurists.

"The government hopes that the beginning of the special trial will not take a long time," Sierra Leone Justice Minister and Attorney General Solomon Berewa said yesterday. "Members of the UN legal affairs office have been in Freetown to examine certain premises and structures that they might need to use for the court."

Sankoh is currently being held in an unknown location, and a senior government official reported earlier this week that Sankoh has prostate cancer and is in critical condition. Sankoh was arrested in May after RUF rebels disregarded the peace agreement and held some 500 UN peacekeepers hostage.

The RUF is notorious for inflicting gruesome treatment on civilians. The rebels have recently appointed a new leader, Issa Sesay, which could mean they want to open a fresh round of peace talks.