AMSTERDAM: A Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army commander accused of war crimes made his first appearance before the International Criminal Court in The Hague on Monday, giving thanks to God as he took the stand after a decade on the run.

Dominic Ongwen, a child soldier who rose through the ranks of the rebel group that abducted him, was among five senior LRA commanders indicted by the global court in 2005.

Dressed in a dark blue suit and white shirt, Ongwen appeared hesitant, looking nervously around the courtroom as he rose to confirm his identity.