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Africa trial opens without Taylor Africa trial opens without Taylor
(40 minutes later)
The war crimes trial of Liberia's ex-president Charles Taylor has opened in The Hague with a row over the failure of the former leader to attend. The war crimes trial of Liberia's ex-President Charles Taylor has opened in The Hague with the accused refusing to attend proceedings.
Mr Taylor stands accused of supporting rebels in Sierra Leone who conducted an 11-year campaign in which thousands of civilians were killed or maimed. Mr Taylor said his trial would not be fair because he had a single defence lawyer. His counsel left the court, defying the judge's order to stay.
In a letter read to the court by his lawyer, Mr Taylor said he was "unable to participate in this charade". Mr Taylor is accused of backing rebels in Sierra Leone in an 11-year campaign that killed thousand of civilians.
The case is the first of its kind against a former African leader. It is the first case of its kind against a former African leader.
Judge Julia Sebutinde ordered the trial to continue without Mr Taylor, amid intense protests from his lawyer, Karim Khan.
Mr Khan then left the court, saying he was not in a position to represent his client without further instruction from him.
After nearly one hour of wrangling, the prosecution began opening statements.
Proceedings are expected to last between a year and 18 months, and the UK has offered to imprison Mr Taylor if he is convicted.Proceedings are expected to last between a year and 18 months, and the UK has offered to imprison Mr Taylor if he is convicted.
The former Liberian leader has been indicted on 11 charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and violations of international humanitarian law over his alleged role in the brutal civil war in Sierra Leone.The former Liberian leader has been indicted on 11 charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and violations of international humanitarian law over his alleged role in the brutal civil war in Sierra Leone.
Mr Taylor denies them all.Mr Taylor denies them all.
'Not fit for purpose''Not fit for purpose'
The judge repeatedly pressed Mr Taylor's defence counsel on his failure to appear at the court. Judge Sebutinde repeatedly pressed Mr Khan on the failure of his client to appear.
"He has not thumbed his nose at the court," said his lawyer before producing a letter in which Mr Taylor said he felt he would "not receive a fair trial at the Special Court at this time". "He has not thumbed his nose at the court," said Mr Khan before producing a letter in which Mr Taylor said he felt he would "not receive a fair trial at the Special Court at this time".
CHARLES TAYLOR CHARGES Acts of terrorism (WC)Murder (CAH)Violence to life, in particular murder (WC)Rape (CAH)Sexual slavery and violence (CAH)Outrages upon personal dignity (WC)Violence to life, in particular cruel treatment (WC)Other inhumane acts (CAH)Use of child soldiers (VHL)Enslavement (CAH)Pillage (WC) CAH: Crime against humanity WC: War crime VIHL: Violation of international humanitarian law Taylor - the trial beginsCHARLES TAYLOR CHARGES Acts of terrorism (WC)Murder (CAH)Violence to life, in particular murder (WC)Rape (CAH)Sexual slavery and violence (CAH)Outrages upon personal dignity (WC)Violence to life, in particular cruel treatment (WC)Other inhumane acts (CAH)Use of child soldiers (VHL)Enslavement (CAH)Pillage (WC) CAH: Crime against humanity WC: War crime VIHL: Violation of international humanitarian law Taylor - the trial begins
The court, he said, was not "fit for purpose", adding that he would not appear until "adequate time and facilities are provided".The court, he said, was not "fit for purpose", adding that he would not appear until "adequate time and facilities are provided".
"I cannot participate in a charade that does injustice to the people of Sierra Leone," he says in the letter. "I choose not to be a fig-leaf of legitimacy for this process". "I cannot take part in this charade that does injustice to the people of Liberia and the people of Sierra Leone," he said in the letter. "I choose not to be a fig-leaf of legitimacy for this process".
The charges against Mr Taylor include terrorising the civilian population, murder, sexual violence, physical violence, using child soldiers, enslavement and looting.The charges against Mr Taylor include terrorising the civilian population, murder, sexual violence, physical violence, using child soldiers, enslavement and looting.
Mr Taylor pleaded not guilty to all the charges at his first appearance at the court in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in March 2006.Mr Taylor pleaded not guilty to all the charges at his first appearance at the court in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in March 2006.
He initially refused to plead, arguing that the court had no right to try him and that it had no jurisdiction over Liberia or its former president.He initially refused to plead, arguing that the court had no right to try him and that it had no jurisdiction over Liberia or its former president.
The Special Court for Sierra Leone has been approved by both the UN and the government of Sierra Leone.The Special Court for Sierra Leone has been approved by both the UN and the government of Sierra Leone.
It is sitting in the facilities of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague because of the risks that the trial might lead to tensions within Sierra Leone itself.It is sitting in the facilities of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague because of the risks that the trial might lead to tensions within Sierra Leone itself.
The Dutch government agreed to host Mr Taylor's trial, as long as he was imprisoned in another country if convicted.The Dutch government agreed to host Mr Taylor's trial, as long as he was imprisoned in another country if convicted.
Blood diamondsBlood diamonds
The BBC's David Bamford says the trial hinges on determining the degree to which Mr Taylor helped start, prolong and deepen the brutal civil war in Sierra Leone.The BBC's David Bamford says the trial hinges on determining the degree to which Mr Taylor helped start, prolong and deepen the brutal civil war in Sierra Leone.
TAYLOR TIMELINE 1989: Launches rebellion1991: 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 Nigeria Profile: Charles Taylor Q&A: Trying TaylorTAYLOR TIMELINE 1989: Launches rebellion1991: 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 Nigeria Profile: Charles Taylor Q&A: Trying Taylor
Mr Taylor started Liberia's civil war in 1989 and became one of a number of warlords competing for control in the West African country.Mr Taylor started Liberia's civil war in 1989 and became one of a number of warlords competing for control in the West African country.
He later emerged as Liberia's most powerful politician and won the 1997 presidential election that ended the war there.He later emerged as Liberia's most powerful politician and won the 1997 presidential election that ended the war there.
Meanwhile in 1991, one of Mr Taylor's comrades-in-arms, Foday Sankoh, also started his own rebellion in neighbouring Sierra Leone.Meanwhile in 1991, one of Mr Taylor's comrades-in-arms, Foday Sankoh, also started his own rebellion in neighbouring Sierra Leone.
The prosecution claims Mr Taylor provided the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) leader with training, money, arms and ammunition to start the rebellion and even lent him fighters to take part in the initial attack.The prosecution claims Mr Taylor provided the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) leader with training, money, arms and ammunition to start the rebellion and even lent him fighters to take part in the initial attack.
The RUF became notorious for hacking off the hands and legs of civilians during their decade-long war.The RUF became notorious for hacking off the hands and legs of civilians during their decade-long war.
It is alleged that Mr Taylor shared a common plan with the RUF's commanders to gain power and control over Sierra Leone, so he could gain access to its diamonds and have a government in Freetown that would support his aims.It is alleged that Mr Taylor shared a common plan with the RUF's commanders to gain power and control over Sierra Leone, so he could gain access to its diamonds and have a government in Freetown that would support his aims.
However, the rebellion in Sierra Leone collapsed. Its war crimes court indicted the rebel leaders and Mr Taylor as well. Mr Sankoh died in 2003.However, the rebellion in Sierra Leone collapsed. Its war crimes court indicted the rebel leaders and Mr Taylor as well. Mr Sankoh died in 2003.
That year, Mr Taylor himself lost power in Liberia after rival militias rose up and forced him into exile in Nigeria.That year, Mr Taylor himself lost power in Liberia after rival militias rose up and forced him into exile in Nigeria.
He was deported by Nigeria last year in controversial circumstances and flown to The Hague to await his trial.He was deported by Nigeria last year in controversial circumstances and flown to The Hague to await his trial.