Taylor war crimes trial restarts

The international war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor reopened at The Hague today, six months after it was adjourned when he boycotted the opening session and fired his lawyer.

Taylor, 59, is accused of terrorising the people of Sierra Leone by orchestrating atrocities committed by militias infamous for hacking off their victims’ limbs during the country’s 10-year civil war that ended in 2003.

The 11 charges against him include murder, rape, enslavement and conscripting child soldiers.

Taylor, the first former African head of state to appear before an international tribunal, has pleaded innocent to all charges.

Ian Smillie, a Canadian expert on the international trade in blood diamonds, was the first witness to testify, telling the three-judge panel that diamonds fuelled the war in Sierra Leone.

Prosecutors say Taylor’s desire to get his hands on diamonds from Sierra Leone was one of the root causes of his involvement in that country’s civil war.

Taylor, wearing a grey suit and tie and gold-rimmed glasses, listened carefully to the proceedings, but showed no emotion.