Liberia's Taylor Sent to War-Crimes Trial in The Hague
20 June 2006
Officials in Sierra Leone says former Liberian President Charles Taylor has left Sierra Leone and is enroute to The Hague, where he will stand trial for war crimes.
The United Nations Security Council last week authorized the former leader's transfer to the Netherlands.
Taylor has been held by a U.N.-backed tribunal in Sierra Leone, which has charged him with 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Authorities in Sierra Leone had asked the United Nations to move the legal proceedings against Taylor to The Hague, due to fears that a trial of the notorious former West African leader could trigger instability in the region.
The charges against Taylor are connected to his alleged support for rebels in Sierra Leone rebels who raped, mutilated and killed civilians during the country's 11-year civil war.
Taylor is accused of promoting civil wars in both Liberia and Sierra Leone. He was taken to Sierra Leone earlier this year after Nigeria revoked his asylum.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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