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Taylor's vice president testifies | Taylor's vice president testifies |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The war crimes trial of the former Liberian President Charles Taylor is hearing evidence from the man who was once his deputy. | The war crimes trial of the former Liberian President Charles Taylor is hearing evidence from the man who was once his deputy. |
Moses Blah fought alongside Mr Taylor in the country's civil war and is being seen as a key witness at the long-running proceedings in the Hague. | Moses Blah fought alongside Mr Taylor in the country's civil war and is being seen as a key witness at the long-running proceedings in the Hague. |
Mr Taylor is on trial accused of backing rebels who committed atrocities in neighbouring Sierra Leone. | |
Mr Blah joined Mr Taylor in 1989 to wage war against President Samuel Doe. | |
Mr Blah became vice president of Liberia in 2000. He succeeded Charles Taylor as president after Mr Taylor was forced into exile in 2003. | |
However, he was only Liberian president for two months, until October 2003, when a United Nations-backed transitional government, headed by Gyude Bryant, was sworn in. | However, he was only Liberian president for two months, until October 2003, when a United Nations-backed transitional government, headed by Gyude Bryant, was sworn in. |
"I'm not going to crucify him - he's my former boss," Mr Blah told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme before travelling to the Hague. | |
Charles Taylor denies charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes | Charles Taylor denies charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes |
"I have nothing personal against President Taylor - we worked together almost like brothers; we had a revolution going together, so I don't think I'm going to betray him," he added. | "I have nothing personal against President Taylor - we worked together almost like brothers; we had a revolution going together, so I don't think I'm going to betray him," he added. |
A lawyer representing Mr Taylor, Terry Munyard, told the BBC his client was not worried about Mr Blah's evidence and if he told the truth there was nothing to fear. | A lawyer representing Mr Taylor, Terry Munyard, told the BBC his client was not worried about Mr Blah's evidence and if he told the truth there was nothing to fear. |
During Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war, which officially ended in 2002, tens of thousands of people died and thousands more were mutilated, raped and had limbs amputated. | During Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war, which officially ended in 2002, tens of thousands of people died and thousands more were mutilated, raped and had limbs amputated. |
Mr Taylor's case has been transferred from Sierra Leone to the Hague for security reasons, although it is still being conducted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone. | Mr Taylor's case has been transferred from Sierra Leone to the Hague for security reasons, although it is still being conducted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone. |
Mr Taylor denies 11 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. |