United Nations Radio

The eight men found guilty by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war have been transferred from the court's detention center in Freetown, Sierra Leone to Kigali, Rwanda to serve their sentences.

UN Spokesperson Michele Montas says three of the men transferred led the rebel movement called the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).

"The prisoners were transferred over the weekend, accompanied by officials from the Special Court's Security and Detention sections. They included three former leaders of Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front (RUF), whose sentences were recently upheld on appeal. The prisoners will be incarcerated at Rwanda's Mpanga Prison, under an agreement signed between the Special Court and the Rwandan government last March."

The three were convicted last February on charges related to terrorism, murder, rape, sexual slavery, the use of child soldiers, forced marriage and attacks against UN peacekeepers. Their sentences range between 15 and 52 years with credit given for time served at the detention center in Sierra Leone. The men were transferred to Rwanda because there is no prison in Sierra Leone that meets the required international standards.

The remaining trial, involving former Liberian president Charles Taylor, is continuing at The Hague, where it was moved for security reasons.

Gail Walker, United Nations Radio
duration: 1'25"