Taylor arrives in Hague for trial

Jun. 20 - Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia arrives in the Netherlands for war crimes trial.

War crimes court officials flew former Liberian President Charles Taylor out of Sierra Leone on a charter jet.

Taylor triggered 14 years of civil war in Liberia when he launched a rebellion from neighbouring Cote d'Ivoire in December 1989 to unseat President Samuel Doe, who was later killed.

Michelle Carlile-Alkhouri reports.

SOUNDBITE: Emmanuel Koffi, Liberian refugee in Ivory Coast saying, (English):
''I believe that every African leader as Charles Taylor they should be tried, their own people have the course of action and giving testimony of what that person has done to them and they will be able to give a physical testimony of what ever he has done, whatever atrocity he has committed.''

SOUNDBITE: Joseph Sandy, Liberian refugee in Ivory Coast saying, (English):
''It's better that Taylor goes to the Hague, especially in for the West Africa region.

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor has been flown from his detention cell in Sierra Leone ahead of his trial in The Hague

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor has been flown from his detention cell in Sierra Leone ahead of his trial in The Hague.

Court spokesman Peter Andersen said Taylor was flown by U.N. helicopter to the airport on the outskirts of Sierra Leone's capital and escorted onto a plane that took off shortly afterward.

Mr. Taylor faces 11 war crimes charges after allegedly backing rebels in the decade-long Sierra Leone civil war. Last week, the United Kingdom offered to host any jail term he may serve paving the way for his transfer.