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Conviction of ex-Chadian president "historic" for int'l criminal justice: UN chief

Xinhua, June 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said the delivery of trial judgment in the case against former Chadian President Hissene Habre marks a historic day for international criminal justice.

On Monday, Habre was sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court in Senegal after it convicted him of crimes of rape, sexual slavery, voluntary homicides, massive human trafficking, and war crimes.

The verdict came from the Extraordinary African Chambers in Dakar, capital of Senegal, a special criminal court set up by the African Union within the West African nation's court system.

"The Secretary-General congratulates the African Union and in particular Senegal on the establishment of the Extraordinary African Chambers and expresses his gratitude to all those States who have contributed to this achievement," UN Spokesperson Stehpane Dujarric told a daily briefing.

"The delivery of this judgment marks a historic day for the people of Chad, the region and beyond, as well as for international criminal justice," said Dujarric.

Habre, 73, led Chad between 1982 and 1990. After having been overthrown by current Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno, he fled to Senegal.

After a legal battle by victims of his actions that lasted for several years, the former Chadian president was arrested on June 30, 2013 at his home in Dakar, and charged on July 2, 2013 at the special court. Enditem