France, Oct. 7 -- Human rights activists on Tuesday hailed the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to convict a Sudanese militia chief for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during attacks in Darfur at the turn of the century.

At the end of the ICC's first trial involving crimes committed during the conflict in the south of the country, the court found Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known by the nom de guerre Ali Kushayb, guilty of multiple crimes including rape, murder and torture carried out between August 2003 and at least April 2004.

"The chamber is convinced that the accused is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crimes with which he has been charged," said ICC president judge Joann...