The court says Bosco Ntaganda conscripted child soldiers to fight in the Ituri region of eastern Congo from July 2002 until December 2003.

The court's prosecutor says Ntaganda is still at large in the Congo.

Prosecutors say he is chief of staff of a "political-military group" commanded by rebel Laurent Nkunda in North Kivu province.

Tuesday's statement alleges that Ntaganda is a former ally of Thomas Lubanga. Lubanga was the first suspect taken into custody by the Hague-based court and is due to go on trial in late June for allegedly using child soldiers.