Sankoh's body handed to family

Sankoh was due to stand trial for crimes against humanity

The body of former Sierra Leone rebel leader, Foday Sankoh, has been handed over to his family in the country's capital, Freetown.

Sankoh, an indicted war crimes suspect blamed for one of Africa's most horrific civil wars, died on Tuesday while in the custody of the UN-backed war crimes court.

An autopsy conducted by UN doctors concluded he died from respiratory failure due to a pulmonary embolism.

Sankoh is expected to be buried on Sunday, Reuters news agency reported.

UN authorities provided a varnished wood coffin for the return of his remains to his family, the Associated Press news agency reported.

Crimes against humanity

Hundreds of angry Sierra Leoneans thronged the streets of Freetown to watch as his body was transported in a police van amidst heavy security to the city's main hospital.

Many jeered as the vehicle passed them in drizzling rain, Reuters reported.

"Take his body to hell or give it to us, the crowd, to burn his body to ashes," one woman shouted.

Sankoh, a Libyan-trained guerrilla leader, was the head of Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front during a brutal 10-year campaign to win control of the country's government and diamond fields.

His fighters made a trademark of lopping off the hands, feet, lips and ears of men, women and children - even babies.

Arrested in 2000, he spent three years in detention and was due to stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity, including murder, sexual slavery and extermination.

UN prosecutors estimate that more than 50,000 people were killed before outside military intervention crushed the rebels and ended the conflict in early 2002.