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Taylor's vice-president testifies | |
(20 minutes later) | |
The war crimes trial of Liberia's ex-President Charles Taylor is hearing evidence from his former deputy. | The war crimes trial of Liberia's ex-President Charles Taylor is hearing evidence from his former deputy. |
The BBC's Grant Ferrett at the Hague says as Moses Blah took the witness stand, he was careful not to look at the man he served for nearly 20 years. | The BBC's Grant Ferrett at the Hague says as Moses Blah took the witness stand, he was careful not to look at the man he served for nearly 20 years. |
He gave the court a detailed account of Mr Taylor's bloody rise to power and acknowledged the use of child soldiers. | |
Mr Taylor is on trial accused of backing rebels who committed atrocities in neighbouring Sierra Leone. | |
Mr Blah is expected to give evidence later about the war in Sierra Leone. | Mr Blah is expected to give evidence later about the war in Sierra Leone. |
Mr Blah became vice-president of Liberia in 2000. He became president after Mr Taylor was forced into exile in 2003. | Mr Blah became vice-president of Liberia in 2000. He became 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 was sworn in. | However, he was only Liberian president for two months, until October 2003, when a United Nations-backed transitional government was sworn in. |
'Not worried' | 'Not worried' |
Mr Blah is the most senior figure to give evidence at the trial since it began in January. | Mr Blah is the most senior figure to give evidence at the trial since it began in January. |
Charles Taylor denies war crimes and crimes against humanity | Charles Taylor denies war crimes and crimes against humanity |
He came to the Hague reluctantly, but said he intended to tell the truth. | He came to the Hague reluctantly, but said he intended to tell the truth. |
"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. | "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. |
"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. |
In court Mr Blah provided a detailed insider's account of the early days of the civil war. | In court Mr Blah provided a detailed insider's account of the early days of the civil war. |
He said he was one of the first 20 or so rebel fighters who received training at a military base in Burkina Faso. | He said he was one of the first 20 or so rebel fighters who received training at a military base in Burkina Faso. |
It was not until a larger group was assembled at a military camp in Libya that Mr Blah met Mr Taylor. | It was not until a larger group was assembled at a military camp in Libya that Mr Blah met Mr Taylor. |
They trained alongside rebels from The Gambia, Sierra Leone and the Philippines, all of them supported by the Libyan authorities. | They trained alongside rebels from The Gambia, Sierra Leone and the Philippines, all of them supported by the Libyan authorities. |
Mr Blah told the court that when the time came to invade Liberia, three truck loads of weapons were provided by the defence minister of Ivory Coast. | Mr Blah told the court that when the time came to invade Liberia, three truck loads of weapons were provided by the defence minister of Ivory Coast. |
Within days of crossing into Liberia in 1990, Mr Blah says he was briefly detained by child rebel fighters recruited by his own side. | Within days of crossing into Liberia in 1990, Mr Blah says he was briefly detained by child rebel fighters recruited by his own side. |
He said they were used because they took orders and were "unreasonable and aggressive". | He said they were used because they took orders and were "unreasonable and aggressive". |
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. | Mr Taylor denies 11 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. |