Former Sierra Leone President Gives Testimony At War Crimes Court

Freetown, Sierra Leone (AHN) - Sierra Leone's former President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah returned early from his honeymoon to testify at a war crimes tribunal Friday where he described former warlord leader Issa Sesay as cooperating to end the nation's 10-year civil war.

Kabbah reportedly told the United Nation's-backed war crimes court that Revolutionary United Front (RUF) leader Sesay was very cooperative in the disarmament process. The war officially ended in 2002 and Kabbah and Sesay held a ceremony burning of arms to celebrate peace.

The war left 50,000 dead and more than that were maimed and raped. Prosecutors argue that rebels committed many war atrocities

Kabbah, who was married five days ago, cut his honeymoon short to come back and testify on behalf of Sesay, described the former warlord rebel now on trial as being "very, very cooperative" during the nation's disarmament process, according to BBC news reports.

The special court originally indicted 13 people in 2002 and 2003, but RUF rebel leader Foday Sankoh and his deputy commander Sam Bockarie died before they reached trial. Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is being tried separately in The Hague on charges that he backed the rebels.