ICC issues warrant for DRC rebel leader

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for rebel Congolese Gen. Bosco Ntaganda for war crimes in DRC, his second warrant from the court. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Ntaganda for suspected war crimes committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002 and '03. The court, in a statement, said it considered Ntaganda's arrest "necessary to ensure that he will appear before the judges and that he will not obstruct the investigation, as well as to prevent him from continuing with the commission of a crime within the ICC's jurisdiction." A 2006 arrest warrant was issued on three counts of war crimes for allegedly conscripting child soldiers. Ntaganda waged mutiny in April against the DRC military for allegedly violating the terms of a peace deal that integrated former rebels into the national military. The Democratic Republic of Congo and members of the Central African community met in Ethiopia last week, pledging to "eradicate" the M23 militia, which is loyal to Ntaganda. The ICC said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe Ntaganda is responsible for murder, rape and sexual slavery in the Democratic Republic of Congo.