France: Liberian ex-militant arrested over war crimes

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS

A wanted former militant of Liberia's brutal civil war was arrested, being charged over crimes against humanity in France, local media reported Friday.

The man, identified as Kunti K., a naturalized Dutch citizen of Liberian origin, was arrested in Paris on Tuesday, French daily Le Figaro reported citing police sources.

The 44-year-old man arrived in France in 2016, after leaving the Netherlands and passing through Belgium, according to police.

The former commander was on duty in the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) during the 1990s.

He is suspected of torture, murder, slavery, the use of child soldiers, as well as cannibalism.

Liberia was devastated by two civil wars which killed around 250,000 people between 1989 and 2003.