Chad's Habre forced to appear in Senegal for start of trial

An African Union-backed court in Senegal forced former Chadian President Hissene Habre to appear for the start of his trial on on charges of crimes against humanity on Monday, after his legal team denied the legitimacy of the tribunal.

Habre, dressed all in white, was brought into the courtroom before the media were allowed to enter and seated in front of the judges' dais. "We brought Habre in by force," said a source close to the special court.

Habre is accused of being responsible for the torture and killing of thousands of people during his 1982-1990 rule in his central African country. The trial marks the end of a 15-year battle to bring him to justice in Senegal, where he has lived in exile after being toppled in a coup.