ICC postpones trial of CAR rebel leaders

The trial of two Central African Republic (CAR) rebel leaders, scheduled to open at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday, has been postponed to 16 February.

Alfred Yékatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona face 21 and 32 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity respectively.

The alleged crimes include intentionally directing an attack against civilian population.

They will be tried jointly as the charges relate to the same attacks.

The trial of Mr Ngaïssona and Mr Yékatom will start weeks after the CAR handed over Mahamat said Abdel Kani, a leader of the Seleka faction, to the ICC over alleged crimes committed in the capital, Bangui, in 2013.