Former Chadian President, Hissène Habré, hauled before Court

Former Chadian President, Hissène Habré, was hauled before the special court in Senegal for "crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of torture" on Monday, noted AFP.

Hissène Habré, aged 72, who was dressed in white and wore a turban was taken to the accused box by officials of the prison administration at the Palais de Justice of Dakar. He raised his fist and shouted "Allah akbar"(God is great)!"

The trial, before the extraordinary African Chambers (CAE) and in a special Court created by the African Union (AU) under an agreement with Senegal, opened a few minutes after the scheduled time (10:00 local and GMT).

This was after the evacuation of the supporters of the ex-Chadian president, by gendarmes, who yelled in hostile slogans in the court room. President of Burkina Faso, Gberdao Gustave Kam, noted that, at the opening of the trial, the defense was "not represented".

The accused, who "does not recognize the Court, in its legality or legitimacy", according to one of his lawyers, Mr. Ibrahima Diawara, had stated that he would not appear in court and instructed his Councils to do likewise.

Hissène Habré has been in detention for two years in Senegal where he found refuge after having been overthrown by the current president, Idriss Déby Itno. He is being prosecuted for "crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of torture" under his regime (1982-1990), making some 40,000 dead, according to human rights organisations.