FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, June 25 (UPI) -- A U.N. Security Council mission to seven West African countries Friday visited the new independent Special Court for Sierra Leone.
The mission, led by British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry, was briefed by Registrar Robin Vincent and Prosecutor David Crane on the workings of the U.N. approved court, which was established in 2002.
Trials of people accused of having committed crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international humanitarian law under the umbrella of the Civil Defense Forces began June 3.
Trials of people accused of similar crimes while members of the Revolutionary United Front are to begin on July 5.
Other mission members represent Algeria, Angola, Benin, Brazil, Chile, China, France, Germany, Pakistan, the Philippines, Romania, Spain and the United States. Russia did not take part.
