After a complex legal wrangle in the Freetown High Court on Wednesday, the trial of former rebel leader Foday Sankoh has been adjourned until 18 September.

Mr Sankoh arrived at court on Wednesday for the start of his trial on murder charges without a lawyer to represent him.

But it was not the dilemma of his representation that troubled the judge when the trial resumed; it was the state prosecutors who asked for the adjournment.

As RUF leader, Sankoh was one of Sierra Leone's most powerful men

The Sierra Leone Director of Public Prosecutions wants the trial to be held before the Special Criminal Court which the government plans to establish, the BBC's Lansana Fofana in Freetown reported.

The government intends to set up the special court to try serious cases relating to the civil war in Sierra Leone.

The adjournment will give the government until September to set up the new court.

Mr Sankoh is due to appear again before the High Court on 18 September.

Licence refused

The original court hearing of Mr Sankoh's case was adjourned in March and transferred from a lower court to the Freetown High Court.

At that time, Mr Sankoh could not find a lawyer who would agree to represent him.

Sierra Leone's attorney general appealed to his country's lawyers to be fearless and to come forward to represent Mr Sankoh and the other 49 accused.

He is being tried for a single incident in the civil war, when in May 2000 his bodyguards opened fire on a crowd of civilians protesting outside his home in Freetown, killing 21.

Civilians were often targets during the civil war

A month ago it seemed there had been a breakthrough.

A Nigerian lawyer stood beside Mr Sankoh in court and the case was adjourned for a month to allow him time to obtain a licence to practise law in Sierra Leone.

He was refused a licence to practise and Mr Sankoh's supporters say they do not have the money to find another lawyer, the French news agency AFP reported.

The Sierra Leone Government does not want to abandon the murder trial but if it continues without defence lawyers, the verdict could be questioned.

Mr Sankoh now has until 18 September to find a new lawyer.

Frail

Mr Sankoh says he is not guilty of the murders but he could face the death penalty if he is convicted.

On his previous appearances in court, the man who led a ferocious rebel movement appeared confused and frail, his hair grey now and matted in dreadlocks.

This is unlikely to be the last time he is questioned about his role in the war.

Foday Sankoh's forces had a brutal reputation

A United Nations war crimes tribunal is due to begin work later this year, bringing charges against those it believes were responsible for crimes against humanity.

Earlier this week Sierra Leone formally established a truth and reconciliation commission.

It is based on the commission which held hearings in South Africa on crimes committed during the apartheid era.

It is likely to begin public meetings and statements in three months' time - one more step in the healing process of a country which tore itself apart during years of brutal civil war.