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Taylor starts war crimes defence Taylor starts war crimes defence
(about 1 hour later)
Lawyers for Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia on trial for crimes against humanity, have begun his defence. Lawyers for Charles Taylor, ex-president of Liberia, have told his trial for crimes against humanity that he tried to bring peace to the country.
He denies 11 charges, including murder, rape and torture, at the Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague. He denies 11 charges at the Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague, including murder, rape and torture.
Prosecutors say he controlled rebels who carried out atrocities during Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war.Prosecutors say he controlled rebels who carried out atrocities during Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war.
Mr Taylor, who denies the charges, is expected to give evidence in his own defence on Tuesday. Mr Taylor is due to give evidence on Tuesday. He is the first African leader to be tried by an international court.
He is the first African leader to be tried by an international court. As Mr Taylor listened in court, his lawyer Courtenay Griffiths opened the defence, saying: "We do not take issue with the fact that terrible atrocities occurred in Sierra Leone.
Claire Carlton-Hanciles, of the court's defence office, told the BBC that Mr Taylor was ready to defend himself. "This case should not be about what happened in Sierra Leone, but who bears the greatest responsibility, bearing in mind that Charles Taylor tried to achieve peace."
"Mr Taylor is ready and his lawyers who were employed by the office have ensured that they have prepped him for the past month-and-a-half," she said. Before the session started, Claire Carlton-Hanciles, of the court's defence office, told the BBC that Mr Taylor was ready to defend himself and had been prepared for the past six weeks by defence lawyers.
TAYLOR TIMELINE 1989: Launches rebellion in Liberia1991: RUF rebellion starts in Sierra Leone1995: Peace deal signed1997: Elected president1999: Liberia's Lurd rebels start insurrection to oust TaylorJune 2003: Arrest warrant issuedAugust 2003: Steps down, goes into exile in NigeriaMarch 2006: Arrested, sent to Sierra LeoneJune 2007: Trial opens in The Hague Profile: Charles Taylor Q&A: Trying TaylorTAYLOR TIMELINE 1989: Launches rebellion in Liberia1991: RUF rebellion starts in Sierra Leone1995: Peace deal signed1997: Elected president1999: Liberia's Lurd rebels start insurrection to oust TaylorJune 2003: Arrest warrant issuedAugust 2003: Steps down, goes into exile in NigeriaMarch 2006: Arrested, sent to Sierra LeoneJune 2007: Trial opens in The Hague Profile: Charles Taylor Q&A: Trying Taylor
"I saw Mr Taylor about two days ago. He is in high spirits.""I saw Mr Taylor about two days ago. He is in high spirits."
In May, judges rejected a request by Mr Taylor's defence team to acquit him because of a lack of evidence.In May, judges rejected a request by Mr Taylor's defence team to acquit him because of a lack of evidence.
The prosecution says Mr Taylor planned atrocities committed by Revolutionary United Front rebels during Sierra Leone's civil war, which ended in 2002.The prosecution says Mr Taylor planned atrocities committed by Revolutionary United Front rebels during Sierra Leone's civil war, which ended in 2002.
The RUF were notorious for using machetes to hack the limbs off civilians. The RUF was notorious for using machetes to hack the limbs off civilians.
Mr Taylor is accused of passing guns to the RUF in exchange for diamonds from Sierra Leone.Mr Taylor is accused of passing guns to the RUF in exchange for diamonds from Sierra Leone.
His lawyers are expected to argue that he in fact tried to bring peace to the region and that there is no evidence directly linking him to the RUF. But his defence claims that Mr Taylor did not command RUF rebels in Sierra Leone, sell them weapons in exchange for blood diamonds or recruit child soldiers.
Mr Taylor started Liberia's civil war in 1989, before being elected president in 1997.Mr Taylor started Liberia's civil war in 1989, before being elected president in 1997.
After a period of exile in Nigeria, he was eventually extradited from Liberia in 2006.After a period of exile in Nigeria, he was eventually extradited from Liberia in 2006.
The trial, being held by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, was moved to the Netherlands from Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, amid fears it could create instability in the country and neighbouring Liberia.The trial, being held by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, was moved to the Netherlands from Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, amid fears it could create instability in the country and neighbouring Liberia.