RIGHTS groups lauded the conviction in Paris of former Liberian rebel commander Kunti Kamara, who was sentenced to life in prison for atrocities committed during the West African country's first civil war. Kamara was found guilty on Wednesday of perpetrating torture and "barbaric acts" in 1993 when he was part of a rebel group known as the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) active during the conflict. One of his lawyers, Maryline Secci, told Reuters in an email on Thursday that she would appeal the sentence. Kamara has maintained his innocence. The Paris Criminal Court that delivered its…