U.N. Security Council OKs Venue Change for Taylor Trial
The U.N. Security Council on Friday authorized the transfer of former Liberian President Charles Taylor to an international tribunal that will try him for war crimes.
Taylor is in the custody of a United Nations-backed war crimes court in Sierra Leone, where he pleaded not guilty in April to charges stemming from that nation’s 1991-2002 civil war.
The court in Sierra Leone requested that the trial be moved out of concern that Taylor, who once was among West Africa’s most feared warlords, could still spark unrest in the region.
The Security Council voted 15-0 to authorize Taylor’s transfer to The Hague for trial by the International Criminal Court.
Taylor faces 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity stemming from his alleged backing of Sierra Leonean rebels, who terrorized victims by chopping off their arms, legs, ears and lips during the civil war.
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