THE HAGUE, January 26 (RIA Novosti) - The world's first permanent war crimes court, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, began work on Monday as a former Congolese warlord pleaded not guilty to charges of using child soldiers.

Thomas Lubanga, 48, a former militia leader from the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been charged with recruiting minors to fight in his Union of Congolese Patriots between September 2002 and August 2003.

If found guilty, Lubanga could face up to 30 years in prison.

The ICC acts only when member countries are "unwilling or unable" to dispense justice themselves. It may prosecute individuals responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed after July 2002. While the UN Security Council may ask the court to open an investigation, the ICC is an independent body.

Lubanga was arrested in March 2006 in Congo's capital of Kinshasa, and handed over to the ICC. Legal organizations have criticized the ICC because Lubanga is only being charged with recruiting children for war. According to reports, between 2002 and 2003 Lubanga's Union of Congolese Patriots killed thousands of civilians, burned dozens of villages, and displaced more than 60,000 people.

The chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo of Argentina, has prepared 1,671 documents against Lubanga, including video tapes showing him surrounded by children in a camp he created to train minors for war. Out of the 34 witnesses, 31 of whom are former child warriors, 19 will give anonymous testimonials during the trial for security reasons.

The ICC consists of 18 judges who are elected for terms of three to nine years. It came into force in July 2002 after ratification by 60 countries. Neither the United States nor Sudan is among the 108 countries that have endorsed the treaty to date. Former U.S. president George Bush was against the treaty because he feared that Americans would be "unfairly" prosecuted for political reasons. It is unclear how the U.S. relationship with the court will change under President Barack Obama. While Russia has signed the treaty it has not yet ratified it.