Reuters AlertNet Lite - AU names representative to speed Habre trial

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AU names representative to speed Habre trial

22 Nov 2007 10:15:48 GMT
Source: Reuters

DAKAR, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The African Union has named a special representative to Senegal to speed progress in the human rights trial of former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre, officials said on Thursday.

Robert Dossou, Benin's former foreign minister and justice minister, said he had been appointed by AU Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare to assist Senegal with the long-delayed case. It will be the first time one developing nation has tried someone for rights crimes committed in another.

A summit of the Africa Union in Gambia last year mandated Senegal to try Habre on charges of ordering thousands of political killings, systematic torture and ethnic cleansing during his 1982-1990 rule.

Habre has lived in the West African country since being overthrown in 1990.

Asked if he thought the case was progressing too slowly, Dossou replied: "That is why the AU has decided to appoint a representative."

Dossou, who headed an AU panel of legal experts which advised the AU summit on the Habre case, said he would visit the organisation's headquarters in Addis Ababa shortly for a briefing before travelling to Dakar.

Senegal has not yet named an investigating judge in the case. The U.N. Committee Against Torture said on Monday its experts believed Senegal was progressing too slowly and called for a start to criminal proceedings.

"Senegal has been asked to prosecute Hissene Habre on behalf of Africa, so it is important that Africa gives Senegal the necessary support," Reed Brody, lawyer for Human Rights Watch, told Reuters.

Habre was first arrested in Senegal in February 2000, but has not since been prosecuted and Dakar refused to extradite him to Belgium in 2005.

An EU team due to discuss technical and financial assistance for Senegal has postponed its visit by three months until January. Senegal, which has no experience of human rights trials, has drafted a budget for the trial of 18.6 billion CFA francs ($41 million), which the European experts are expected to scrutinise closely. (Reporting by Daniel Flynn; Editing by Giles Elgood)

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Last updated:Thu Nov 22 10:14:44 2007