Ten go on trial for rape and robbery in Darfur

KHARTOUM - Ten men have gone on trial in Sudan accused of rape and robbery in the troubled Darfur region.

Mahmoud Mohamed Saeed Abkam told Reuters from Nyala, capital of South Darfur, where the court opened on Saturday, that the trial had been adjourned until Tuesday at the request of the prosecution, which asked for more time to call witnesses.

"Yesterday we started trying a case of robbery and rape," Abkam said. "According to what the prosecution is saying they (the accused) were serving members of the Popular Defence Forces (PDF)."

He added there were 10 men on trial and the crimes were committed about six months ago.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and more than 2 million driven from their homes into makeshift camps during the conflict in Darfur over the last two and a half years.

The government describes the PDF as an army reserve called up to serve alongside the army to put down rebellion in Darfur.

Rights groups and rebels call them "Janjaweed," a term loosely derived from the Arabic for "devils on horseback."

The feared Arab militia are accused of a widespread campaign of rape, killing and burning of villages that has aroused international outcry.

The UN Security Council earlier this year asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate alleged war crimes in Darfur, the first such referral.

Sudan says its special roving court for war crimes will be a substitute for the ICC. The treaty which formed the ICC states that any suspect tried in fair and credible national proceedings cannot be tried in the ICC.

But a U.N.-appointed commission of inquiry into Darfur has concluded the Sudanese judiciary is not capable of holding such trials. Abkam rejected this, saying he would resign as president of the three-judge court if there was any Sudanese government interference with its proceedings.

He said on Sunday the trial for those accused of attacking a USAID convoy, during which a female American aid worker was shot and wounded, would begin on June 23.

So far only small-time criminals have been identified for trial by the governmental investigative committee. But the top UN envoy in Sudan, Jan Pronk, has said the court might eventually move on to more senior officials.

The ICC has a sealed list of 51 suspects of alleged war crimes which includes senior government and military officials, rebel and militia leaders and foreign army officers.

- REUTERS