| Former Liberian President Charles Taylor has | | | | |
| made his first appearance before Sierra | | | | However, the presiding judge, Justice Richard |
| Leone's special war crimes court. Joe Bavier | | | | Lussick, 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 the | | | | is 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 and | | | | But even as he pled not guilty to all 11 |
| expressionless during the reading of the 11 | | | | charges, 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 facing | | | | the sister Republic of Sierra Leone," he |
| charges of terrorizing civilians, unlawful | | | | said. "I think, this is an attempt to |
| killings, sexual and physical violence, and | | | | continue to divide and rule Liberia and |
| using child soldiers among others. The | | | | Sierra Leone. And so, most definitely, I am |
| charges stem from his alleged backing of the | | | | not 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 the | | | | proceedings to a close. But Taylor still had |
| charges against him, instead of entering a | | | | one 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 over | | | | current president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and |
| me, as the 21st president of the Republic of | | | | the Special Courts president have requested |
| Liberia," he said. | | | | the trial be moved to The Hague. |