Witnesses due in Taylor's war crimes trial

Prosecutors in the Netherlands were due to call their first witness today in the international war crimes case against former Liberian President Charles Taylor.

He is charged with arming Sierra Leone rebels and orchestrating a murderous terror campaign they waged during their country’s 10-year civil war.

But testimony about atrocities may have to wait until judges, prosecutors and other court officials in The Hague decide whether to allow Taylor to fire his lawyer and defend himself.

Taylor, 59, plunged the opening day of his long-awaited trial into chaos on June 4 by boycotting the hearing and telling judges he no longer had faith in their UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone.

Complaining he had insufficient funds to pay for his defence, he wrote that the trial was “neither fair nor just”.

“I cannot participate in a charade that does injustice to the people of Sierra Leone,” he added.

Taylor’s lawyer said the former Liberian leader now wants to defend himself.

The case was adjourned until today and it remained unclear if Taylor, who has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, would appear.