Sierra Leone | Liberia Politics | Society | Human rights Ex-Dictator Taylor sent to The Hague
Today, the long discussion on what to do with the war crimes indicted Liberian leader finally found a sudden conclusion. Without any prior announcement, the UN-backed war crimes court of Sierra Leone sent Mr Taylor out of the country. Accompanied with a large number of armed UN soldiers, he was taken in helicopter from his detention at the court to the Freetown airport. Here again, armed UN peacekeepers firmly led Mr Taylor to a waiting UN aircraft, which took the Liberian to the Netherlands.
The last formal hinder for his transfer to The Hague was cleared on Friday, as the UN Security Council approved of a transfer from Sierra Leone to the Netherlands. Being indicted for war crimes, Mr Taylor was not free to travel, thus necessitating an approval from the top world body. The UN resolution noted that Mr Taylor's presence in the region "is an impediment to stability and a threat to the peace of Liberia and of Sierra Leone." Following the airlifting of the Liberian ex-leader to The Hague, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan praised the London government for its helping hand. Mr Annan further said he was "confident that Charles Taylor's trial will mark a further victory in the struggle to end impunity and will contribute to reconciliation in Liberia and the restoration of peace and stability in Liberia and in Sierra Leone." In The Hague, Mr Taylor will have to answer accusations against him regarding his involvement in the civil wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia and attacks on Guinea. The Special Court says it can document that Mr Taylor financed and trained the brutal RUF rebels of Sierra Leone during the 1991-2001 civil war, where an estimated 120,000 persons were killed. A large number of civilians suffered from mutilations and rape. The Liberian ex-President is said to have been deeply involved in the RUF's illegal diamond trade. By staff writers © afrol News - Create an e-mail alert for Sierra Leone news - Create an e-mail alert for Liberia news - Create an e-mail alert for Politics news - Create an e-mail alert for Society news - Create an e-mail alert for Human rights news
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