International Criminal Court to Decide if Congo Rebel Stands Trial

The International Criminal Court (I.C.C.) is scheduled to announce Monday if a former Congolese militia leader will face trial on war crimes charges. Prosecutors accuse Thomas Lubanga of recruiting thousands of children to fight for the armed wing of his party during the Democratic Republic of Congo's civil war.

Lubanga's lawyers have denied the charges, saying he worked to end the war.

If the court finds there is enough evidence against Lubanga to warrant a full trial it would be the first at the I.C.C. since it started work in 2002. It would also be the first prosecution for charges related to recruiting child soldiers.

国际刑事法庭定于星期一宣布一名前刚果武装领导人是否会因战争罪行而接受审判。检方指控托马斯.卢班加在刚果民主共和国内战期间为他所在党派的武装分支招募成千上万儿童当兵。

卢班加的律师否认有关指控，并表示卢班加为结束战争而作出了努力。

如果法庭认为有足够的证据审判卢班加，这将是国际刑事法庭2002年开始运作以来的第一起审判。这也将是第一起有人因招募儿童兵而被起诉的案件。