U.N. Security Council Votes to Establish War Crimes Tribunal for Sierra Leone

On August 14, 2000, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution, establishing a tribunal to prosecute rebels responsible for killing and maiming tens of thousands of people during Sierra Leone’s civil war. Meanwhile, the British Government sent elite troops to rescue six British soldiers held hostage by rebels after a bloody gun battle. 1. The New War Crimes Court Under the resolution U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has authority to negotiate with Sierra Leone’s Government to establish an independent court that will have a combination of local and international judges to prosecute crimes against humanity, war crimes and other serious violations of international and Sierra Leonean laws...[more]