Former Liberian president Taylor to appear in court
Former Liberian President Charles Taylor was expected to make his first appearance in a Hague court room in the Netherlands today for a hearing aimed at paving the way for his war crimes trial.
The former warlord faces 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for allegedly overseeing the murder, rape and mutilation of thousands of people during Sierra Leone’s bloody 10-year civil war.
He has pleaded not guilty and faces a life sentence if convicted.
Taylor was flown to the Netherlands in June to stand trial at the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
The court is renting space at the International Criminal Court on the outskirts of The Hague, fearing that staging Taylor’s trial in Sierra Leone could trigger fresh unrest in the war-scarred African nation.
Prosecutors say they are ready to move quickly to put Taylor on trial, although the case is not expected to start until early 2007.
