FREETOWN, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Sierra Leone's U.N.-backed Special Court sentenced two former leaders of a pro-government militia to six and eight years in prison on Tuesday for war crimes during the West African state's 1991-2002 civil conflict.

Moinina Fofana and Allieu Kondewa were leaders of the Civil Defence Forces, which fought against rebels trying to topple former President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.

The judges said they had taken into account the defendants' actions in defending democracy when sentencing them.

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