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| Taylor war crimes trial resumes | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor has resumed in The Hague after a six-month delay. | |
| Mr Taylor is the first former African head of state to face an international war crimes court. | Mr Taylor is the first former African head of state to face an international war crimes court. |
| He denies responsibility for atrocities committed by rebels during the war in neighbouring Sierra Leone. | He denies responsibility for atrocities committed by rebels during the war in neighbouring Sierra Leone. |
| The trial opened in June last year but proceedings were postponed after Mr Taylor fired his defence lawyer and boycotted the opening of the trial. | The trial opened in June last year but proceedings were postponed after Mr Taylor fired his defence lawyer and boycotted the opening of the trial. |
| Mr Taylor is accused of responsibility for the actions of Revolutionary United Front rebels during the 1991-2001 civil war in Sierra Leone, which included unlawful killings, sexual slavery, use of child soldiers and looting. | Mr Taylor is accused of responsibility for the actions of Revolutionary United Front rebels during the 1991-2001 civil war in Sierra Leone, which included unlawful killings, sexual slavery, use of child soldiers and looting. |
| We owe it to the victims to present some testimony in a live sense Stephen Rapp,chief prosecutor Test for justiceCharles Taylor: Profile | We owe it to the victims to present some testimony in a live sense Stephen Rapp,chief prosecutor Test for justiceCharles Taylor: Profile |
| RUF fighters were also notorious for hacking off the arms and legs of the civilian population with machetes. | RUF fighters were also notorious for hacking off the arms and legs of the civilian population with machetes. |
| Prosecutors say Mr Taylor provided the RUF with weapons in exchange for diamonds. | Prosecutors say Mr Taylor provided the RUF with weapons in exchange for diamonds. |
| As the first international criminal prosecution against a former African ruler accused of misdeeds, the case is of crucial importance, says the BBC's Mark Doyle in The Hague, the Netherlands. | As the first international criminal prosecution against a former African ruler accused of misdeeds, the case is of crucial importance, says the BBC's Mark Doyle in The Hague, the Netherlands. |
| Mr Taylor has pleaded not guilty to all 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. | Mr Taylor has pleaded not guilty to all 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. |
| 'Blood diamonds' | 'Blood diamonds' |
| The first witness to take the stand on Monday will be Ian Smillie, an expert on conflict or "blood diamonds" - so called because proceeds from their sale have been used to fuel conflicts across the African continent. | The first witness to take the stand on Monday will be Ian Smillie, an expert on conflict or "blood diamonds" - so called because proceeds from their sale have been used to fuel conflicts across the African continent. |
| Allegations include the use of child soldiers | Allegations include the use of child soldiers |
| Prosecutors say Mr Taylor's desire for access to diamonds and other natural resources from Sierra Leone was one of the root causes of his alleged involvement in the war. | Prosecutors say Mr Taylor's desire for access to diamonds and other natural resources from Sierra Leone was one of the root causes of his alleged involvement in the war. |
| The prosecution will also be calling a Sierra Leonean victim and a Liberian witness who is said to have belonged to Mr Taylor's inner circle. | The prosecution will also be calling a Sierra Leonean victim and a Liberian witness who is said to have belonged to Mr Taylor's inner circle. |
| Both witnesses are protected, which means their names have not been revealed. | Both witnesses are protected, which means their names have not been revealed. |
| In all, the prosecution intends to call 144 witnesses, though only half are likely to appear in person. | In all, the prosecution intends to call 144 witnesses, though only half are likely to appear in person. |
| Chief prosecutor at the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, Stephen Rapp, said: "We owe it to the victims to present some testimony in a live sense [so as] not to drain the case of the human element completely." | Chief prosecutor at the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, Stephen Rapp, said: "We owe it to the victims to present some testimony in a live sense [so as] not to drain the case of the human element completely." |
| The trial is expected to last almost two years. | The trial is expected to last almost two years. |
| It is being held in The Hague for fear that staging it in Sierra Leone might lead to fresh unrest there. | It is being held in The Hague for fear that staging it in Sierra Leone might lead to fresh unrest there. |