More than 30 suspected criminals, accused of rape and violent robbery, have been taken for trial in court in Wau town, Western Bahr al-Ghazal State.

They were arrested in the town in June and accused of raping young girls in front of their parents and of violent robbery at night.

They are being tried by a special court set up to handle these issues. The first hearing was scheduled for today, but it was postponed until tomorrow.

Officials said some of the suspects were taken for the hearing without written charges.