War crimes suspect in Hague court

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (CNN) -- A former Congolese militia leader suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity made his first appearance at the International Criminal Court at The Hague Monday.

Germain Katanga, 29, is alleged to have committed six war crimes and three crimes against humanity -- including murder, sexual enslavement, and using child soldiers -- in the Democratic Republic of Congo's northeast Ituri region. He is the second person to be held in ICC custody in connection with the Congo conflict -- Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga's trial is expected to begin early next year.

Katanga wore a dark gray suit, white shirt and dark blue tie.

When the court session began, the judge and lawyers spent about 20 minutes trying to determine which language to use in proceedings. Katanga spoke in French but said his preferred language is Lingala, one of the national languages in Congo.

Because the court lacked a Lingala translator, the judge asked whether Katanga speaks Swahili, but he said no. A member of the prosecution then told the court Katanga does indeed speak Swahili because he spoke it with his guard while being transferred to court, but a member of the defense counsel said it is not the language Katanga speaks best.

The court then adjourned to sort out the language issue.

Katanga is not yet charged with the alleged crimes, and Monday's session does not mark the start of his trial. A date for a hearing to confirm the charges is among the items on Monday's agenda.

Until that hearing, Katanga is considered only a "suspect" of the crimes and is not even formally accused, said Sonia Robla, a spokeswoman for the ICC.

Katanga, who once led the Forces for Patriotic Resistance in Ituri, was arrested in Congo in 2005 and transferred to The Hague last week.

Allegations against him include murder, sexual enslavement, forcing children to fight as soldiers, deliberately attacking civilians, and pillage.

The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo began after the rebel forces of Laurent Kabila drove former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko from power in 1997. After Kabila took over, militias backed by neighboring African countries began a war primarily aimed at taking control of Congo's vast mineral resources, which are concentrated in the east of the country.

Kabila's son, Joseph, took power after his father's assassination in 2001 and was formally elected president at the end of last year.

Human rights groups estimate that more than 3 million people have been killed, making it the deadliest conflict since World War II.

Sporadic fighting persists in the country's eastern provinces despite a 2002 peace accord. E-mail to a friend