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Liberia's Charles Taylor Appears in Court, Pleads Not Guilty

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



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