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| I fought corruption, says Taylor | I fought corruption, says Taylor |
| (1 day later) | |
| Liberia's former president Charles Taylor has told his UN war crimes trial that he spent years fighting corruption before he took power. | Liberia's former president Charles Taylor has told his UN war crimes trial that he spent years fighting corruption before he took power. |
| He told judges in The Hague he joined the government in 1980, but his anti-corruption stance made him unpopular. | He told judges in The Hague he joined the government in 1980, but his anti-corruption stance made him unpopular. |
| Mr Taylor emerged victorious from Liberia's civil war in the 1990s. But the charges he faces are related to the civil war in neighbouring Sierra Leone. | |
| He denies 11 charges including murder, terrorism, rape and torture. | He denies 11 charges including murder, terrorism, rape and torture. |
| Mr Taylor's British lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, is leading the former president through a reconstruction of his life and the circumstances of his 1997-2003 premiership. | Mr Taylor's British lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, is leading the former president through a reconstruction of his life and the circumstances of his 1997-2003 premiership. |
| Analysts at the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone say the lawyer is trying to portray Mr Taylor as a virtuous leader and peacemaker, rather than the vicious warlord prosecutors say he is. | Analysts at the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone say the lawyer is trying to portray Mr Taylor as a virtuous leader and peacemaker, rather than the vicious warlord prosecutors say he is. |
| 'Deceit, deception, lies' | 'Deceit, deception, lies' |
| Mr Taylor appeared in the witness box for the first time on Tuesday, two years after his trial began. | Mr Taylor appeared in the witness box for the first time on Tuesday, two years after his trial began. |
| CHARLES TAYLOR CHARGES Violation of humanitarian law: Conscripting child soldiersCrimes against humanity: Terrorising civilians, murder, rape, sexual slavery, enslavementWar crimes: "Violence to life", cruel treatment (including hacking off limbs), pillage Preacher, warlord, president Q&A: Trying Taylor Taylor's defiant testimony | CHARLES TAYLOR CHARGES Violation of humanitarian law: Conscripting child soldiersCrimes against humanity: Terrorising civilians, murder, rape, sexual slavery, enslavementWar crimes: "Violence to life", cruel treatment (including hacking off limbs), pillage Preacher, warlord, president Q&A: Trying Taylor Taylor's defiant testimony |
| He dismissed the case against him as "lies". | He dismissed the case against him as "lies". |
| An estimated 500,000 people were killed, mutilated or suffered other atrocities in the civil war in Sierra Leone, which lasted from 1991 until 2002. | An estimated 500,000 people were killed, mutilated or suffered other atrocities in the civil war in Sierra Leone, which lasted from 1991 until 2002. |
| Some of the worst crimes were committed by child soldiers who were drugged to desensitise them. | Some of the worst crimes were committed by child soldiers who were drugged to desensitise them. |
| Mr Taylor is the first African leader to be tried by an international court. | Mr Taylor is the first African leader to be tried by an international court. |
| He told the court on Tuesday he had wanted to bring peace to Liberia's West African neighbour. | He told the court on Tuesday he had wanted to bring peace to Liberia's West African neighbour. |
| He denied being involved in atrocities committed by Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels during the civil war. | He denied being involved in atrocities committed by Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels during the civil war. |
| "I am not guilty of these charges, not even a minute part of these charges," he said. "This whole case is a case of deceit, deception and lies." | "I am not guilty of these charges, not even a minute part of these charges," he said. "This whole case is a case of deceit, deception and lies." |
| Prosecutors have called 91 witnesses in pressing their case that Mr Taylor provided arms, money and support to Sierra Leone rebels in exchange for diamonds. | Prosecutors have called 91 witnesses in pressing their case that Mr Taylor provided arms, money and support to Sierra Leone rebels in exchange for diamonds. |
| Mr Taylor is the first of 249 witnesses the defence has said it may call. | Mr Taylor is the first of 249 witnesses the defence has said it may call. |
| The trial was moved to the Netherlands from Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, amid fears it could create instability there and in neighbouring Liberia. | The trial was moved to the Netherlands from Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, amid fears it could create instability there and in neighbouring Liberia. |
| A verdict in the case is expected in 2010. | A verdict in the case is expected in 2010. |