Freetown — The UN backed Special Court for Sierra Leone is currently said to be facing serious financial constraints; a situation that could leave the Court completely bankrupt by end of November 2007.

While the Court now appeals for an additional US$60 million to complete its work by 2009, President of the international hybrid tribunal, Justice George Gelaga King has intensified efforts to get member states to urgently address the funding shortfall.

Earlier, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon estimated that the budgetary requirements for the Court for 2008 was US$33 million and will still need some US$20 million for 2009.

"The Special Court is entirely dependent on voluntary contributions and presently, the court has insufficient funds to allow it to continue its operations beyond October 2007," Ban said.

Member states were expected to have responded to the call by October 15.

The Court was established in January 2002 by an agreement between the Sierra Leone government and the UN with a mandate to try those who bear the greatest responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the country after November 30, 1996.