Prosecutors rest in Dyilo war crimes trial

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, July 14 (UPI) -- The prosecution rested Tuesday in the war crimes trial of reputed Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga Dyilo in The Hague, Netherlands.

Dyilo's defense is not expected to start until October.

Dyilo, the alleged founder and leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots, is accused of recruiting children as soldiers and sending them into battle between September 2002 and August 2003. He surrendered to authorities in 2006.

His case is the first before the International Criminal Court in which alleged victims are being allowed to take part, the United Nations News Center reported.

The prosecution called 28 witnesses since the trial started Jan.26. All but three of the witnesses had their voices and facial features distorted, and used pseudonyms to protect their identities, the news center said.

A psychologist attended the proceedings to support and monitor witnesses.

Two other war crimes cases stemming from the fighting in Democratic Republic of the Congo also being heard by the international court -- one involving Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, who are in custody, and the other against Bosco Ntaganda, who remains at large.