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| Taylor labels Hague case 'lies' | Taylor labels Hague case 'lies' |
| (17 minutes later) | |
| Ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor has dismissed as "lies" the war crimes case against him, as he took the stand for the first time at The Hague. | Ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor has dismissed as "lies" the war crimes case against him, as he took the stand for the first time at The Hague. |
| He denies 11 counts including terrorism, murder, rape and torture, at the Special Court for Sierra Leone. | He denies 11 counts including terrorism, murder, rape and torture, at the Special Court for Sierra Leone. |
| The 61-year-old is accused of having armed and directed rebel groups from Liberia in order to seize control of Sierra Leone's diamond riches. | The 61-year-old is accused of having armed and directed rebel groups from Liberia in order to seize control of Sierra Leone's diamond riches. |
| Mr Taylor is the first African leader to be tried by an international court. | Mr Taylor is the first African leader to be tried by an international court. |
| "It is very, very, very unfortunate that the prosecution, because of disinformation, misinformation, lies, rumours would associate me with such titles or descriptions," he told the packed courtroom. | |
| 'Love for humanity' | 'Love for humanity' |
| He denied claims he was involved in atrocities committed by Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels during Sierra Leone's 1991-2002 civil war. | He denied claims he was involved in atrocities committed by Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels during Sierra Leone's 1991-2002 civil war. |
| CHARLES TAYLOR CHARGES Violation of humanitarian law: Conscripting child soldiersCrimes against humanity: Terrorising civilians, murder, rape, sexual slavery, enslavementWar crimes: Violence to life and cruel treatment (including hacking off limbs) pillage Preacher, warlord, president Q&A: Trying Taylor Taylor's defiant testimony | CHARLES TAYLOR CHARGES Violation of humanitarian law: Conscripting child soldiersCrimes against humanity: Terrorising civilians, murder, rape, sexual slavery, enslavementWar crimes: Violence to life and cruel treatment (including hacking off limbs) pillage Preacher, warlord, president Q&A: Trying Taylor Taylor's defiant testimony |
| Taking the stand for the first time in his two-year trial, he said he had only wanted to bring peace to Sierra Leone. | Taking the stand for the first time in his two-year trial, he said he had only wanted to bring peace to Sierra Leone. |
| Mr Taylor, whose testimony is expected to last several weeks, continued: "I am a father of 14 children, grandchildren, with love for humanity, have fought all my life to do what I thought was right in the interests of justice and fair play." | Mr Taylor, whose testimony is expected to last several weeks, continued: "I am a father of 14 children, grandchildren, with love for humanity, have fought all my life to do what I thought was right in the interests of justice and fair play." |
| Wearing a dark suit and tinted spectacles, he told his lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, that the charges were "false" and "malicious". | Wearing a dark suit and tinted spectacles, he told his lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, that the charges were "false" and "malicious". |
| Mr Taylor denied providing military assistance to the rebels - who were notorious for using machetes to hack the limbs off civilians - or having plotted to invade Sierra Leone with RUF leader Foday Sankoh. | Mr Taylor denied providing military assistance to the rebels - who were notorious for using machetes to hack the limbs off civilians - or having plotted to invade Sierra Leone with RUF leader Foday Sankoh. |
| 'Diamond-filled jars' | 'Diamond-filled jars' |
| He also denied having been given coffee jars full of blood diamonds by the RUF. | He also denied having been given coffee jars full of blood diamonds by the RUF. |
| "Never, ever, did I receive whether it is mayonnaise or coffee or whatever jar, never received any diamonds from the RUF. It's a lie, it's a diabolical lie. Never," he said. | "Never, ever, did I receive whether it is mayonnaise or coffee or whatever jar, never received any diamonds from the RUF. It's a lie, it's a diabolical lie. Never," he said. |
| TAYLOR TIMELINE 1989 Launches rebellion in Liberia1991 RUF rebellion starts in Sierra Leone1995 Peace deal signed1997 Elected president1999 Liberia's Lurd rebels start insurrection to oust TaylorJune 2003 Arrest warrant issuedAugust 2003 Steps down, goes into exile in NigeriaMarch 2006 Arrested, sent to Sierra LeoneJune 2007 Trial opens at Hague | TAYLOR TIMELINE 1989 Launches rebellion in Liberia1991 RUF rebellion starts in Sierra Leone1995 Peace deal signed1997 Elected president1999 Liberia's Lurd rebels start insurrection to oust TaylorJune 2003 Arrest warrant issuedAugust 2003 Steps down, goes into exile in NigeriaMarch 2006 Arrested, sent to Sierra LeoneJune 2007 Trial opens at Hague |
| Mr Taylor's legal team began setting out its case on Monday. He is the first of 249 witnesses the defence has said it may call to the stand. | Mr Taylor's legal team began setting out its case on Monday. He is the first of 249 witnesses the defence has said it may call to the stand. |
| His lawyers say Mr Taylor could not have micro-managed a rebel operation in Sierra Leone while also running affairs of state in Liberia. | His lawyers say Mr Taylor could not have micro-managed a rebel operation in Sierra Leone while also running affairs of state in Liberia. |
| The prosecution called 91 witnesses, many of whom provided graphic testimony of amputations, murder of children and cannibalism, before wrapping up its case in February. | The prosecution called 91 witnesses, many of whom provided graphic testimony of amputations, murder of children and cannibalism, before wrapping up its case in February. |
| Mr Taylor started a civil war in Liberia 1989, before being elected president there in 1997. He was himself overthrown by a rebellion and went into exile in 2003. | Mr Taylor started a civil war in Liberia 1989, before being elected president there in 1997. He was himself overthrown by a rebellion and went into exile in 2003. |
| After a spell in Nigeria, he was eventually extradited from Liberia in 2006. | After a spell in Nigeria, he was eventually extradited from Liberia in 2006. |
| The trial at the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone was moved to the Netherlands from Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, amid fears it could create instability in the country and neighbouring Liberia. | The trial at the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone was moved to the Netherlands from Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, amid fears it could create instability in the country and neighbouring Liberia. |
| A verdict in the case is expected some time next year. | A verdict in the case is expected some time next year. |
| Were you affected by the civil war in Sierra Leone? If you are willing to speak to the BBC News website about your experiences, please get in touch using the postform below. Your contact details will not be published. | Were you affected by the civil war in Sierra Leone? If you are willing to speak to the BBC News website about your experiences, please get in touch using the postform below. Your contact details will not be published. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |