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Title: Belgians accused of war crimes in killing of Congo leader Lumumba Post by: Iniko Ujaama on June 28, 2010, 09:49:23 AM Belgians accused of war crimes in killing of Congo leader LumumbaBy Antonia van de Velde in Brussels
A son of Congo's first democratically-elected leader, Patrice Lumumba, is to seek the prosecution for war crimes of 12 Belgian officials suspected of aiding his father's assassination in 1961. Lawyers for Francois Lumumba said on Tuesday that they planned to file the complaint at a Brussels court in October – a week before the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrates 50 years of independence from its former colonial master, Belgium. "I want to know how he died. There are many books I can read and everything has been said, but there is no justice," said Guy Lumumba, the leader's youngest son, at a news conference at which Francois was not present. The complaint will assert that the Belgian government and military officials were involved in transferring Mr Lumumba Snr from captivity in the capital, Léopoldville, to the region of Katanga, and that they failed to prevent him being tortured and killed. Patrice Lumumba came to power after the Congo won independence from Belgium in 1960. His government was overthrown in a coup led by the young head of the Congolese army, Joseph-Désiré Mobutu. continue here www.independent.co.uk (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/belgians-accused-of-war-crimes-in-killing-of-congo-leader-lumumba-2007587.html) |