When I saw this I knew it needed a comment: I am quite certain that while this may be amply justified, I am missing a name much further down the alphabet where such action would be equally justified. This time in Rome?



Belgian authorities arrested former Democratic Republic of the Congo Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba May 24 on an International Criminal Court warrant.

Bemba is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity for the actions of troops under his command in the neighboring Central African Republic in 2002-2003. Bemba's subordinates were responsible for mass rape and torture, according to human rights groups. The 45-year-old has conceded the events took place but argues he is not responsible because he did not specifically order his troops to commit the abuses.

Human rights advocates have called for the arrest of other officials from the D.R. Congo and the Central African Republic for their roles in the conflict.

In Africa, "men with weapons, whether they belong to national armies or illegal armed groups, regularly terrorise, rape, torture and kill civilians and rarely face the consequences of their acts," South Africa's Mail & Guardian newspaper wrote. "But the arrest of Bemba could just be the rude wake-up call that these leaders need to jolt them out of their complacency about, and complicity in, horrible acts of violence."

Bemba supporters rallied in Kinshasa after his arrest, proclaiming his innocence and demanding his immediate release.

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