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Taylor labels Hague case 'lies' | Taylor labels Hague case 'lies' |
(20 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. | |
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. | |
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," Mr Taylor told his defence lawyer. | |
'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 civil war, which ended in 2002. | |
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 Taylor | 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 Taylor |
Taking the stand for the first time in his 18-month 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 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". |
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 denied providing military assistance to the rebels or having plotted to invade Sierra Leone with RUF leader Foday Sankoh. | |
'Diamond-filled coffee jars' | |
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. | |
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 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 in The Hague |
Mr Taylor's 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. |
In May, judges in the court, housed in the International Criminal Court building in The Hague, rejected a request by Mr Taylor's defence team to acquit him because of a lack of evidence. | |
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. |
He was himself overthrown by a rebellion and agreed to go into exile in 2003. | |
After a spell 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. |
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 |