South Sudan court rejects Riek Machar's bid to halt murder and treason trial

The special court rules that Riek Machar is not immune from prosecution and it can put him on trial.

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The court dismissed all objections by Machar's legal team regarding its authority, the constitutionality of the proceedings, and the claim that he was immune from prosecution. The case will continue on Wednesday.

Machar has dismissed the charges brought against him two weeks ago as a political "witch-hunt". They have raised fears of return to civil war.

The charges stem from an attack in March by a militia allegedly linked to Machar, which killed 250 soldiers and a general.

Since then, he has been under house arrest.