Trial set for 2 Darfur rebel commanders

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands, March 7 (UPI) -- Two rebel commanders from Sudan's Darfur region are accused of killing African peacekeepers and face trial in May 2014, the International Criminal Court said.

Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain and Saleh Mohammed Jerbo Jamus each face three counts of violence to life in the form of murder, war crimes of attacking a peacekeeping mission and pillaging, the Sudan Tribune reported Wednesday.

The men are accused of leading a rebel force in the September 2007 attack on the African Mission in Sudan base in Haskanita, North Darfur, in which a dozen peacekeepers were killed. They also allegedly stole vehicles, refrigerators, computers, cellphones, ammunition and money.

A third rebel commander, Bahr Idriss Abu Garda, was cleared by the ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands.

Banda and Jerbo have maintained that the base was a legitimate military target, the Tribune said.

The ICC also has issued warrants alleging war crimes in Darfur against Sudanese Defense Minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, South Kordofan governor Ahmad Haroun, pro-government Janjaweed militia leader Ali Kushayb and Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir.

ICC prosecutors have accused the men of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur during decade-long fighting.