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Charles Taylor appeal verdict due in The Hague Charles Taylor war crimes convictions upheld
(about 9 hours later)
A UN-backed special court in The Hague is due to rule on an appeal by former Liberian President Charles Taylor. A UN-backed special court in The Hague has rejected an appeal against war crimes convictions by lawyers representing former Liberian President Charles Taylor.
Last May, the court sentenced him to 50 years in prison for aiding and abetting rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone during the 1991-2002 civil war. It ruled that his convictions had been proved beyond doubt.
Taylor appeared impassive in court as the judge upheld his convictions and 50-year sentence.
He was sentenced in May 2012 for aiding rebels who committed atrocities in Sierra Leone during its civil war.
His lawyers had argued that there were legal errors during his trial.
Taylor was found to have supplied weapons to the Revolutionary United Front rebels in exchange for a constant flow of so-called blood diamonds.
He was found guilty at his trial of 11 crimes including terrorism, rape, murder and the use of child soldiers by rebel groups in neighbouring Sierra Leone during the vicious civil war of 1991-2002.
Judge Richard Lussick said at his trial that they were "some of the most heinous crimes in human history".
Taylor has always insisted he is innocent and his only contact with the rebels was to urge them to stop fighting.
He became the first former head of state convicted by an international war crimes court since World War II.He became the first former head of state convicted by an international war crimes court since World War II.
His lawyers want him acquitted arguing that legal and factual errors were made during the trial. 'Campaign of terror'
However, the prosecution has sought to increase his sentence to 80 years. "The appeals chamber... affirms the sentence of 50 years in prison and orders that the sentence be imposed immediately," judge George King told the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) on Thursday.
The BBC's Chris Morris in The Hague says the court's decision will be closely watched because the guilty verdict was hailed as a landmark, proving that even people at the highest level of power can be held to account. The BBC's Chris Morris in The Hague says the court's decision has been closely watched because the guilty verdict was hailed as a landmark, proving that even people at the highest level of power can be held to account.
Charles Taylor, 65, was found guilty of aiding and abetting war crimes in Sierra Leone, including terrorism, rape, murder and the use of child soldiers. In its ruling, the special court said that Mr Taylor's personal conduct had a "significant effect on the commission of crimes in Sierra Leone".
He was also found guilty of planning some of the attacks carried out by rebel groups in neighbouring Sierra Leone during the vicious civil war. It said that he unleashed a campaign of terror against the Sierra Leonean opposition "using terror as its modus operandi".
The former Liberian leader was arrested in 2006 and maintained his innocence throughout the trial. Correspondents say that Taylor is now expected to serve his sentence in a foreign jail. The UK has offered to accept him at a British prison - other destinations include Sweden or Rwanda.
If his appeal fails, Charles Taylor will serve his sentence in a foreign jail. The UK has offered to accept him at a British prison - alternative destinations include Sweden or Rwanda. Our correspondent says it will take about a week to organise his transfer from The Hague.
Our correspondent says it would take about a week to organise his transfer from The Hague.