Sierra Leone prosecutor resigns

Mr Crane promises justice will be done

The chief prosecutor of Sierra Leone's war crimes tribunal is to step down.

David Crane told the BBC that he had promised his wife he would only do the job for three years, which end in July.

Nine people are currently on trial, accused of bearing the greatest responsibility for the killing, maiming and rape of thousands of people.

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor has been indicted for his alleged role in the war and is fighting attempts to extradite him from Nigeria.

The rebel RUF's campaign of violence included hacking off the limbs of civilians as a trademark act of terror.

'Off the streets'

"I can assure you that justice will be done," Mr Crane told the BBC's Network Africa programme.

Justice on trial Catalogue of horrors awaited

He said that those who bore the greatest responsibility had been "taken off the streets".

Apart from those on trial, other suspects have died.

Mr Crane said he was still working to have Mr Taylor put on trial.

He is accused of being the RUF paymaster.

He resigned last year as part of a deal to end fighting in Liberia.

Unlike the war crimes tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone is based where the alleged crimes occurred and draws on both national and international law.