UN urged to put Taylor on trial
UN urged to put Taylor on trial
Charles Taylor was a flamboyant and controversial figureThe new chief prosecutor of Sierra Leone's war crimes tribunal says he hopes Liberia's exiled former leader Charles Taylor will soon face trial.
Desmond de Silva said if a UN Security Council resolution was passed this month, Nigeria might be persuaded to hand him over to the UN-backed court.
Mr Taylor was offered asylum in Nigeria in return for giving up power in 2003.
Meanwhile, Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo has discussed the issue with US leader George W Bush.
Mounting pressure
Mr Obasanjo said the terms of Mr Taylor's exile had to be borne in mind but said he would work with the US to address its desire that Mr Taylor face justice.
This week the US House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for Nigeria to turn him over to the court.
I will do everything in my power to bring that monster of evil Charles Taylor to answer his indictment by the special court
Desmond de SilvaChief prosecutor, Sierra Leone Special CourtNigeria agreed to give him asylum under a deal to end Liberia's civil war and has said it will not hand him over to the tribunal, which has indicted him on 17 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his alleged role in Sierra Leone's conflict.
"Charles Taylor is our highest potential defendant... having been responsible in large parts for the savagery of the civil war that took place in Sierra Leone," Mr de Silva told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"I sincerely hope... this month the Security Council will pass the resolution ... and with the Security Council on board I think that Nigeria might be persuaded."
'Network of warlords'
Mr de Silva, 65, a British lawyer who has been deputy to David Crane, will step up in July.
"I pledge to you Sierra Leoneans and the world that I will do everything in my power to bring that monster of evil Charles Taylor to answer his indictment by the special court," he said following his appointment.
The incoming chief prosecutor of the Sierra Leone Special Court said the mounting international pressure on Nigeria to hand over the former Liberian president was a good sign that Mr Taylor would face justice soon.
Earlier this week, Mr Crane said that Mr Taylor was behind an attempt to assassinate Guinea's President Lansana Conte in January, in revenge for Mr Conte's backing of Liberian rebels.
"From exile, Charles Taylor remains in contact with his political network in Liberia on a day-to-day basis. He has also mobilised his network of warlords and cronies to keep West Africa in turmoil," Mr Crane said.
Mr Taylor has not commented on these latest charges.
Charles Taylor was a flamboyant and controversial figureThe new chief prosecutor of Sierra Leone's war crimes tribunal says he hopes Liberia's exiled former leader Charles Taylor will soon face trial.
Desmond de Silva said if a UN Security Council resolution was passed this month, Nigeria might be persuaded to hand him over to the UN-backed court.
Mr Taylor was offered asylum in Nigeria in return for giving up power in 2003.
Meanwhile, Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo has discussed the issue with US leader George W Bush.
Mounting pressure
Mr Obasanjo said the terms of Mr Taylor's exile had to be borne in mind but said he would work with the US to address its desire that Mr Taylor face justice.
This week the US House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for Nigeria to turn him over to the court.
I will do everything in my power to bring that monster of evil Charles Taylor to answer his indictment by the special court
Desmond de SilvaChief prosecutor, Sierra Leone Special CourtNigeria agreed to give him asylum under a deal to end Liberia's civil war and has said it will not hand him over to the tribunal, which has indicted him on 17 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his alleged role in Sierra Leone's conflict.
"Charles Taylor is our highest potential defendant... having been responsible in large parts for the savagery of the civil war that took place in Sierra Leone," Mr de Silva told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"I sincerely hope... this month the Security Council will pass the resolution ... and with the Security Council on board I think that Nigeria might be persuaded."
'Network of warlords'
Mr de Silva, 65, a British lawyer who has been deputy to David Crane, will step up in July.
"I pledge to you Sierra Leoneans and the world that I will do everything in my power to bring that monster of evil Charles Taylor to answer his indictment by the special court," he said following his appointment.
The incoming chief prosecutor of the Sierra Leone Special Court said the mounting international pressure on Nigeria to hand over the former Liberian president was a good sign that Mr Taylor would face justice soon.
Earlier this week, Mr Crane said that Mr Taylor was behind an attempt to assassinate Guinea's President Lansana Conte in January, in revenge for Mr Conte's backing of Liberian rebels.
"From exile, Charles Taylor remains in contact with his political network in Liberia on a day-to-day basis. He has also mobilised his network of warlords and cronies to keep West Africa in turmoil," Mr Crane said.
Mr Taylor has not commented on these latest charges.
posted by Plucky @ 3:05 PM
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