The International Criminal Court (ICC) has found the Congolese warlord, Thomas Lubanga, guilty of recruiting and using child soldiers between 2002 and 2003.

It is the court's first verdict since it was set up 10 years ago. He will be sentenced at a later hearing.

He headed a rebel group during an inter-ethnic conflict in a gold-rich region of Democratic Republic of Congo.

The prosecution accused him of using children as young as nine as bodyguards, sex slaves and fighters.

In a unanimous decision, the three judges said evidence proved that as head of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) and its armed wing, Lubanga bore responsibility for the recruitment of child soldiers under the age of 15 who had participated actively on the frontline.

Lubanga, who was arrested in 2005, has the right to appeal against the guilty verdict on all three war crimes charges.