Witness at Congo trial weeps over girl's rape

The first witness testifying at the war crimes trial of Congo's former vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba has broken down in tears as he testified about a young girl being raped in front of her mother by rebel fighters.

The witness, whose identity is being shielded while he testifies at the International Criminal Court, says the girl's mother carried her bleeding daughter to him to report the rape.

He said Tuesday that Bemba's troops raped the girl shortly after they arrived in his village in Central African Republic in 2002.

Bemba pleaded not guilty Monday as his trial opened to charges of murder, rape and pillage.

Prosecutors say he bears responsibility for atrocities committed by his private militia in Central African Republic in 2002-2003.

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