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Taylor 'ignored rebel protests' | Taylor 'ignored rebel protests' |
(20 minutes later) | |
Liberia's ex-President Charles Taylor rejected complaints from Sierra Leone rebels about atrocities committed by his fighters, his ex-deputy has said. | Liberia's ex-President Charles Taylor rejected complaints from Sierra Leone rebels about atrocities committed by his fighters, his ex-deputy has said. |
The RUF rebels were notorious for mutilating civilians but their leader Foday Sankoh complained to Mr Taylor about Liberian troops, said Moses Blah. | The RUF rebels were notorious for mutilating civilians but their leader Foday Sankoh complained to Mr Taylor about Liberian troops, said Moses Blah. |
Mr Blah told Mr Taylor's war crimes trial that his former boss responded by threatening to withdraw his troops. | Mr Blah told Mr Taylor's war crimes trial that his former boss responded by threatening to withdraw his troops. |
Mr Taylor denies 11 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. | Mr Taylor denies 11 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. |
Mr Blah, who briefly succeeded Mr Taylor as president, is the most senior figure to testify in The Hague. | Mr Blah, who briefly succeeded Mr Taylor as president, is the most senior figure to testify in The Hague. |
He is accused of helping Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in their brutal conflict with the government. | He is accused of helping Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in their brutal conflict with the government. |
'Human flesh' | 'Human flesh' |
Mr Blah told the court that RUF rebel leader Foday Sankoh personally complained to Mr Taylor about the rape, looting and killings committed by Liberians helping the RUF. | |
"He [Mr Taylor] said this kind of thing must happen when you're fighting war," he said. | |
I'm not going to crucify him - he's my former boss Moses Blah Profile: Moses Blah | |
The RUF has a reputation for brutality, such as chopping off the arms and legs of civilians, as well as killings and rape. | |
Mr Blah also said that Mr Taylor mediated in arguments between the rebels. | |
He said on one occasion a rebel commander had disagreed with the Liberian president's judgement but said he had to accept "the chief's decision". | He said on one occasion a rebel commander had disagreed with the Liberian president's judgement but said he had to accept "the chief's decision". |
Mr Blah further said that RUF fighters tried to help Mr Taylor's forces against Liberia's Lurd rebels, who eventually forced him from power in 2003. | Mr Blah further said that RUF fighters tried to help Mr Taylor's forces against Liberia's Lurd rebels, who eventually forced him from power in 2003. |
Mr Taylor sat taking notes during his former deputy's testimony. | Mr Taylor sat taking notes during his former deputy's testimony. |
Mr Blah earlier said that the commander of one of Mr Taylor's units in Liberia "had a habit of eating fellow human beings". | Mr Blah earlier said that the commander of one of Mr Taylor's units in Liberia "had a habit of eating fellow human beings". |
He said he saw Nelson Gaye roast a human hand on a fire and eat it with boiled cassava. | He said he saw Nelson Gaye roast a human hand on a fire and eat it with boiled cassava. |
Mr Blah said that Mr Gaye's Marine unit was one of Mr Taylor's forces, which he had been told should not be pursued if they committed atrocities. | Mr Blah said that Mr Gaye's Marine unit was one of Mr Taylor's forces, which he had been told should not be pursued if they committed atrocities. |
But Mr Taylor is only on trial for his alleged role in the Sierra Leone conflict, not that in Liberia. | But Mr Taylor is only on trial for his alleged role in the Sierra Leone conflict, not that in Liberia. |
As Mr Blah took the witness stand on Monday, he was careful not to look at the man he served for nearly 20 years. | As Mr Blah took the witness stand on Monday, 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. | He gave the court a detailed account of Mr Taylor's bloody rise to power and acknowledged the use of child soldiers. |
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. |
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." | "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." |
'Aggressive' | 'Aggressive' |
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. |
Charles Taylor denies war crimes and crimes against humanity | Charles Taylor denies war crimes and crimes against humanity |
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. |
He 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. | He 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. |
Mr Taylor took up arms in Liberia in 1989, before being elected president in 1997 after a peace deal. | Mr Taylor took up arms in Liberia in 1989, before being elected president in 1997 after a peace deal. |
He is accused of sending guns and fighters to Sierra Leone in exchange for diamonds. | He is accused of sending guns and fighters to Sierra Leone in exchange for diamonds. |
During Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war, which officially ended in 2002, tens of thousands of people died and thousands more were mutilated or raped. | During Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war, which officially ended in 2002, tens of thousands of people died and thousands more were mutilated or raped. |
Mr Taylor's case has been transferred from Sierra Leone to The Hague for security reasons, although it is still being conducted by the UN-backed 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 UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone. |