Lawyers challenge DR Congo charges

Lawyers for Jean-Pierre Bemba, the former vice president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, have appeared before the International Criminal Court (ICC) to challenge the legality of war crimes charges against their client.

The hearing began on Tuesday in The Hague, where defence lawyers have appealed to have the case thrown out.

Bemba has been charged with three counts of crimes against humanity and five counts of war crimes for commanding a militia responsible for atrocities in the Central African Republic in 2002 and 2003.

Millions of people were killed and displaced in the drawn-out conflict.

Al Jazeera's Nadim Baba reports.

[April 27, 2010]