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| Taylor war crimes trial resumes | Taylor war crimes trial resumes |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor has resumed in The Hague after a six-month delay. | The war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor has resumed in The Hague after a six-month delay. |
| The court is due to hear its first witness - an expert on "blood diamonds". Mr Taylor is accused of trading diamonds for weapons. | The court is due to hear its first witness - an expert on "blood diamonds". Mr Taylor is accused of trading diamonds for weapons. |
| He is the first African former head of state to face an international war crimes court and faces 11 charges. | He is the first African former head of state to face an international war crimes court and faces 11 charges. |
| He denies responsibility for atrocities committed by rebels during the civil war in neighbouring Sierra Leone. | He denies responsibility for atrocities committed by rebels during the civil 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. |
| He now has a new defence team - a senior British lawyer, who is being paid for by the court, as Mr Taylor says he cannot afford it himself. | He now has a new defence team - a senior British lawyer, who is being paid for by the court, as Mr Taylor says he cannot afford it himself. |
| We owe it to the victims to present some testimony in a live sense Stephen Rapp,chief prosecutor class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7172443.stm">Test for justice class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/2963086.stm">Charles Taylor: Profile The BBC's Mark Doyle in The Hague says this will surprise many people in Liberia, who claim he made lots of money by selling timber and diamonds. | |
| The former Liberian leader, dressed in a dark suit and tie and wearing gold-rimmed glasses, showed no emotion as the proceedings got under way. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| As the first international criminal prosecution against a former African ruler accused of misdeeds, the case is of crucial importance, our correspondent says. | |
| 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 about 18 months. | The trial is expected to last about 18 months. |
| 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. |
| If convicted, the UK has offered to jail him - again in case his presence in West Africa led to instability. | If convicted, the UK has offered to jail him - again in case his presence in West Africa led to instability. |