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'Blood Diamonds' Trial Opens

War crimes court pleads for cash in case against former Liberian president

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 7, 2008 3:29 AM CST
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(Newser) – The war crimes trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor is set to begin in The Hague after months of costly delays—forcing the court to ask for financial handouts to complete the proceedings. Taylor, 59, trained Sierra Leone's notoriously violent Revolutionary United Front in exchange for "blood diamonds," so called because of their cost in human lives,  He is charged with crimes against humanity, murder and rape.

Taylor, the first African leader to be brought before an international court, is receiving $100,000 a month for legal costs. The Special Court for Sierra Leone has appealed for help from international donors to meet costs. “This is certainly the most expensive program of legal assistance to any accused in the history of international justice," said the prosecutor. The prosecution case is expected to take ten months.

Schoolgirls walk past a sign proclaiming Charles Taylor innocent outside the office of his supporters in Monrovia, Liberia Monday, June 4, 2007. Former Liberian President Charles Taylor boycotted and his assigned lawyer walked out of the courtroom in The Hague, Netherlands in a dramatic start to the landmark first international...
Schoolgirls walk past a sign proclaiming Charles Taylor innocent outside the office of his supporters in Monrovia, Liberia Monday, June 4, 2007. Former Liberian President Charles Taylor boycotted and...   (Associated Press)
Former Liberian president Charles Taylor is about to go on trial for crimes against humanity committed in neighboring Sierra Leone during a brutal civil war. The trial will be held in The Hague, Netherlands.
Former Liberian president Charles Taylor is about to go on trial for crimes against humanity committed in neighboring Sierra Leone during a brutal civil war. The trial will be held in The Hague, Netherlands....   (Getty Images)
Charen Taylor looks at an image of her father, former Liberian leader Charles Taylor, on a newly-printed poster at the office of his supporters in Monrovia, Liberia Thursday, May 31, 2007. As Taylor heads to an international war crimes court in the Hague on Monday, his supporters are erecting billboards...
Charen Taylor looks at an image of her father, former Liberian leader Charles Taylor, on a newly-printed poster at the office of his supporters in Monrovia, Liberia Thursday, May 31, 2007. As Taylor heads...   (Associated Press)
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Blood Diamonds

Blood diamonds expert testifies at Taylor trial
Independent (UK)

Trial will hear of sex slaves' suffering
The Australian

Butcher of Monrovia faces justice
Der Spiegel

 
war crimes • murder • rape • Charles Taylor • Sierra Leone • Liberia • crimes against humanity • blood diamonds • The Special Court for Sierra Leone • Stephen Rapp • Revolutionary United Front

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