| Former Liberian President Charles Taylor
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| | said.
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| has made his first appearance before
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| | However, the presiding judge, Justice
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| Sierra Leone's special war crimes court.
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| | Richard Lussick, refused to accept
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| Joe Bavier was at the U.N.-backed court
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| | Taylor's protests.
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| in Freetown and reports for VOA that,
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| | "Until such time as your initial
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| though finally behind bars, the
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| | appearance is completed, you do not have
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| ex-warlord remained defiant at the
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| | the right to bring any motions before
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| opening of his long-awaited trial.
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| | this court," he said.
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| Dressed in a dark blue suit, white shirt,
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| | But even as he pled not guilty to all 11
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| and red tie, Taylor remained calm and
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| | charges, Taylor remained calm and
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| expressionless during the reading of the
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| | defiant.
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| 11 counts against him, a process that
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| | "Most definitely, your honor, I did not,
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| took nearly half-an-hour.
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| | and I could not have committed these acts
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| The former president of Liberia is facing
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| | against the sister Republic of Sierra
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| charges of terrorizing civilians,
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| | Leone," he said. "I think, this is an
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| unlawful killings, sexual and physical
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| | attempt to continue to divide and rule
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| violence, and using child soldiers among
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| | Liberia and Sierra Leone. And so, most
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| others. The charges stem from his alleged
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| | definitely, I am not guilty."
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| backing of the notorious Revolutionary
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| | After only an hour in session, Justice
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| United Front rebels during Sierra Leone's
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| | Lussick attempted to draw the day's
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| decade-long civil war.
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| | proceedings to a close. But Taylor still
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| When it was time for Taylor to reply to
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| | had one surprise left for the court.
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| the charges against him, instead of
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| | Against expectations, Taylor requested
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| entering a plea, he made a statement.
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| | his trial be held in Freetown. Both
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| "There's an issue here regarding this
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| | Liberia's current president, Ellen
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| court, its right to exercise its
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| | Johnson Sirleaf, and the Special Courts
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| jurisdiction over me, as the 21st
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| | president have requested the trial be
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| president of the Republic of Liberia," he
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| | moved to The Hague.
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