[Iran Press TV Latest] Ex-Congolese Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba is due to stand trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for five counts of war crimes. Bemba is facing war crime charges such as rape, torture and pillaging during the 2002-2003 civil war in the African republic.
The charges relate to the conduct of Bemba's troops in the neighboring Central African Republic.
A panel of ICC judges issued a pre-trial statement saying "There is sufficient evidence to establish substantial grounds to believe that Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo is criminally responsible" for murders, rapes and pillaging.
Bemba's lawyers deny the charges, arguing that Bemba was not in charge of the troops once they crossed the border.
The former vice president led the Movement for the Liberation of Congo during the civil war in Democratic Republic of Congo.
He later became vice president after a peace deal.
Civil war broke out in DR Congo after Rwanda and Uganda backed the rebel movement to overthrow the ruling President Laurent Kabila in 1998.