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Taylor labels Hague case 'lies' Taylor labels Hague case 'lies'
(10 minutes later)
Ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor has taken the stand for the first time at his war crimes trial in The Hague, dismissing the charges as "lies".Ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor has taken the stand for the first time at his war crimes trial in The Hague, dismissing the charges as "lies".
He denies 11 counts at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, including terrorism, murder, rape and torture.He denies 11 counts at the Special Court for Sierra Leone, including terrorism, murder, rape and torture.
The prosecution says he armed and directed rebel groups from Liberia in order to seize control of Sierra Leone's diamond riches.The prosecution says he 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 quite incredible that such descriptions of me would come about," he said in response to a question from his defence lawyer about charges of murder and rape."It is quite incredible that such descriptions of me would come about," he said in response to a question from his defence lawyer about charges of murder and rape.
'Love for humanity''Love for humanity'
"It is very, very, very unfortunate that the prosecution, because of disinformation, misinformation, lies, rumours would associate me with such titles or descriptions.""It is very, very, very unfortunate that the prosecution, because of disinformation, misinformation, lies, rumours would associate me with such titles or descriptions."
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 Profile: Charles Taylor Q&A: Trying TaylorCHARLES 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 Profile: Charles Taylor Q&A: Trying Taylor
The 61-year-old, 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." The 61-year-old denied claims he was involved in atrocities committed by Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels during Sierra Leone's civil war, which ended in 2002.
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 lawyer Courtenay Griffiths that the charges were "false" and "malicious".Wearing a dark suit and tinted spectacles, he told lawyer Courtenay Griffiths that the charges were "false" and "malicious".
He denied claims he was involved in atrocities committed by Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels during Sierra Leone's civil war, which ended in 2002. The RUF was notorious for using machetes to hack the limbs off civilians.
The RUF was notorious for using machetes to hack the limbs off civilians. Mr Taylor is accused of passing guns to the RUF in exchange for diamonds from Sierra Leone. Mr Taylor, who is accused of passing guns to the RUF in exchange for diamonds from Sierra Leone, denied providing military assistance to the rebels.
On Tuesday, he denied providing military assistance to the RUF. He also dismissed claims he had plotted to invade Sierra Leone with RUF leader Foday Sankoh. He also dismissed claims he had plotted to invade Sierra Leone with RUF leader Foday Sankoh.
Claire Carlton-Hanciles, of the court's defence office, told the BBC on Monday that Mr Taylor had been prepared for the past six weeks by defence lawyers.
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 in The HagueTAYLOR 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 in The Hague
His legal team began setting out their case on Monday, arguing that Mr Taylor had tried to broker peace in Sierra Leone. Mr Taylor's legal team began setting out their case on Monday, arguing that Mr Taylor had tried to broker peace in Sierra Leone.
They said he could not have micro-managed a rebel operation in Sierra Leone, while also running affairs of state in Liberia.They said he could not have micro-managed a rebel operation in Sierra Leone, while also running affairs of state in Liberia.
Mr Taylor has sat in the courtroom, housed in the International Criminal Court building in The Hague, for months, occasionally passing notes to his legal team.Mr Taylor has sat in the courtroom, housed in the International Criminal Court building in The Hague, for months, occasionally passing notes to his legal team.
In May, judges rejected a request by Mr Taylor's defence team to acquit him because of a lack of evidence.In May, judges rejected a request by Mr Taylor's defence team to acquit him because of a lack of evidence.
His defence claims that Mr Taylor did not command RUF rebels in Sierra Leone, sell them weapons in exchange for blood diamonds or recruit child soldiers.His defence claims that Mr Taylor did not command RUF rebels in Sierra Leone, sell them weapons in exchange for blood diamonds or recruit child soldiers.
Mr Taylor started a civil war in Liberia 1989, before being elected president there in 1997.Mr Taylor started a civil war in Liberia 1989, before being elected president there in 1997.
After a period of exile in Nigeria, he was eventually extradited from Liberia in 2006.After a period of exile in Nigeria, he was eventually extradited from Liberia in 2006.
The trial, being held by 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, being held by 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.
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