Officials from the United Nations and the Sierra Leone Governemnt have signed an agreement in the capital, Freetown, setting up a war crimes tribunal for the country.

The Yugoslav-style war crimes court will indict those in positions of responsibility during a decade-long war notorious for its brutality against civilians.

At the height of the conflict, thousands of innocent people had their hands chopped off by rebels simply because they supported the elected government.

But although there is a deep desire for justice in Sierra Leone, the timing of the formation of the special court could not have come at a more sensitive time.

Bias?

Most of the rebels of the Revolutionary United Front have given up their guns to the large United Nations peacekeeping force here, and the rebel leaders say they want to participate peacefully in post-war elections to be held in May.

But the imprisoned rebel leader, Foday Sankoh, seems bound to be the main target of the court, because his men committed widespread atrocities against civilians.