International court issues first warrants

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- The International Criminal Court in The Hague has issued its first arrest warrants since its inception in 2002.

The leader and four members of the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda are now wanted on charges of killing, raping and robbing civilians and kidnapping children to use as fighters or slaves, The New York Times reports.

Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group fighting the Ugandan Army for two decades, is wanted along with Vincent Otti, Okot Odhiambo, Dominic Ongwen and Raska Lukwiya.

Although applauding the court for its measures, Human Rights Watch director Richard Dicker has criticized it for ignoring alleged atrocities by the Ugandan Army.

A report last month accuses the army of raping, beating, killing and detaining civilians.

The tribunal has no police force and must rely on government forces to carry out the warrants.