Liberia's Taylor Goes on Trial for War Crimes 4 June

Jun 04, 05:18 AM

Current Headlines: Excerpt from report by Radio France Internationale on 4 June

There is a first at the Hague. The trial of the first African head of state to go on trial before an international tribunal opens today. Charles Taylor who was the president of Liberia between 1997 and 2003 will be tried by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone. He is accused of controlling rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone who raped women, mutilated civilians and forced children to enroll as soldiers.

Taylor faces 11 charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The prosecutor plans to present 150 witnesses. Charles Taylor has pleaded not guilty. [Passage omitted]

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