Congo suspect to face war crimes charges

THE HAGUE, Mar 18 (Reuters) A Congolese militia leader accused of conscripting children for war will be the first suspect to face trial at the International Criminal Court, the chief prosecutor of the ICC said today.

Thomas Lubanga arrived at an ICC temporary detention centre late yesterday after having been flown from the Democratic Republic of Congo aboard a French military plane one day after Congolese authorities surrendered him to the court.

''Thomas Lubanga Dyilo was transferred to The Hague and is now in the custody of the Court,'' the ICC's Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo told a press conference.

The 45-year-old suspect was the founder and leader of one of the most dangerous militia in Congo's lawless northeastern district of Ituri, Moreno-Ocampo said.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed during years of militia violence in Ituri, one of Congo's most violent areas.

Lubango has been charged with enlisting children under the age of 15 to fight, but investigations continue and the charges against him could yet be expanded, Ocampo said.

''These are extremely serious crimes. Forcing children to be killers jeopardises the future of mankind,'' he added.

The ICC was set up as the first permanent global war crimes court to try individuals, and Lubanga is the first suspect to be delivered into its custody.

He was arrested in March 2005 in the Congolese capital Kinshasa.

REUTERS DKS RN1835