Tribunal grants Bemba temporary release

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- A war crimes tribunal Friday OK'd the temporary release of a former Congolese leader before the start of his trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

A panel of the International Criminal Court, based at The Hague, Netherlands, said Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo would be released once conditions have been set and a country to house him until trial has been determined, the United Nations said in a release.

Bemba, former vice president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, faces charges for alleged crimes committed in the Central African Republic between October 2002 and March 2003, including rape, murder and pillaging.

ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said he would appeal the decision.

"The judges of the ICC have confirmed that Mr. Bemba must stand trial to answer the very serious charges that have been brought against him," Moreno-Ocampo said. "Victims and witnesses can be confident that the trial will take place in the near future and that the court will continue to guarantee their safety."

The prosecution "considers that Mr. Bemba, who is still physically in detention in The Hague, should stay in prison," the ICC said. "The appeals chamber will review whether the decision to release Mr. Bemba is correct."

The ICC is an independent, permanent court that investigates and prosecutes people accused of the most serious crimes, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.