Sierra Leone War Crimes Court Jails Militia Chiefs

Sierra Leone's special war crimes court on Thursday sentenced three leaders of a militia to long jail terms for war crimes.

Sierra Leone's special war crimes court on Thursday sentenced three leaders of a militia to long jail terms for war crimes that included killing, raping and mutilating civilians.

Alex Tamba Brima and Santigie Borbor Kanu were jailed for 50 years each and Brima Bazzy Kamara for 45 years.

All three had been convicted last month by the United Nations-backed court of crimes against humanity committed during the West African country's 1991-2002 civil war.

"The three accused persons have committed violations of human rights in which civilians were mutilated, (and) other civilians were killed and burnt in their houses," Presiding Judge Julia Sebutinde said, passing sentence in the capital Freetown.

"They also were participants in abducting children for slavery and as child soldiers," she added.

The court's most high-profile defendant, Charles Taylor, former president of neighbouring Liberia, is on trial for war crimes including instigating murder, rape and terrorism during the Sierra Leone war, which was fuelled by illegal diamonds.

Taylor's trial is being held in The Hague in the Netherlands due to fears over security were he to stand trial in Freetown.