THE International Criminal Court has convicted an al-Qaida-linked jihadist leader of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Mali’s desert city of Timbuktu.

Al-Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud was accused of playing a key role in a reign of terror unleashed by insurgents in the historic city in 2012.

He was accused of involvement in crimes including rape, torture, persecution, forced marriages and sexual slavery and could face life imprisonment when sentenced at a later date.