DARFUR -Three convicted by Sudanese war crimes court

KHARTOUM, Aug 13 (AFP) — A Sudanese court on Saturday convicted three members of the Sudanese army on charges of “waging war,” Sudanese press said, marking the first sentences handed down by the special tribunal established for alleged Darfur war crimes.

A special judge, sits in court in Nyala Sept 30, 2004 to try six Sudanese men accused of belonging to the Janjaweed, who killed 24 people in the southern Darfur region in Oct 2003. (Reuters).

The three men were sentenced to five years in prison each, the official SUNA news agency reported.

The court, which is based in North Darfur’s main city of El Fasher and began proceedings in June, said it would announce Sunday its ruling on premeditated murder charges filed against an army lieutenant and corporal.

Sudanese officials have said some 160 suspects would appear before the Sudanese court to try alleged war crimes committed in the western region of Darfur.

The tribunal has been criticised by rebels and rights groups who see it as a deliberate bid by Khartoum to avoid international justice.

UN officials warned the Sudanese court proceedings could not replace the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

A UN investigation has blamed government forces and militia for indiscriminate attacks, including the killing of civilians, torture, enforced disappearances, destruction of villages, rape, pillaging and forced displacement throughout Sudan’s Darfur region.

Between 180,000 and 300,000 people have been killed and 2.4 million made homeless since an uprising in early 2003 prompted Khartoum to unleash militias in a scorched-earth campaign.

President Omar al-Beshir has vowed never to hand over any Sudanese to international jurisdiction.