War crimes trial of alleged leaders of civilian militia delayed

Описание: (3 Jun 2004)
1. Exterior wide shot of court
2. UN soldier standing guard
3. Various of UN security around the court
4. Arrival defence lawyers outside the court
5. Visitors queueing for security check outside the court
6. Security checking visitors
7. Mid shot of chief press officer talking
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Alison Copper, Chief press officer
"Today, at the special court in Sierra Leone here in Freetown, we have got the start of the first trial. It's the CDF trial, which is the Civil Defence Force trial. Now there's three alleged members of that trial on trial today."
9. Arrival of David Crane, prosecutor

STORYLINE:

The opening of a UN-sponsored war crimes court for Sierra Leone was blocked on Thursday by a technical problem which kept observers from hearing proceedings.

The vicious 10-year conflict, waged over control of Sierra Leone's government and diamond fields, claimed an estimated half a million victims of killings, rape, systematic mutilation by machete and other atrocities.

Three former commanders of a popular government-allied militia are slated to be the first of nine accused to stand trial.

Court officials adjourned hearings minutes after they began on Thursday to try to repair an audio cable between the courtroom and a glass-panelled public gallery.

Defendants waved to the gallery as they entered before the interruption.

Because of the audio problem, brief opening comments by judges went unheard, with only the sounds of roosters crowing outside reaching journalists and the rest of the public.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...