Ex-vice president to testify at Liberia war crimes trial
THE HAGUE (AFP) — Ex-Liberian vice-president Moses Blah is to testify May 13 at the trial against his former boss and war crimes suspect Charles Taylor, the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) said Thursday.
"Blah will likely take the stand by Tuesday 13 May, depending on the testimony of the preceding witness," said SCSL in a statement.
Blah was Charles Taylor's vice-president and then became president himself in 2003, before being forced into exile in Nigeria later the same year.
His testimony could be particularly useful for shedding light on Taylor's relationship with the Revolutionary United Forces (RUF), the SCSL said.
Taylor faces 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and recruiting child soldiers. He is currently on trial in The Hague for what the prosecution presents as a key role in supporting and controlling the RUF, which ravaged Sierra Leone from 1991 and 2001.
The former war lord allegedly funded and armed the RUF in exchange for diamonds and other resources, while rebels terrorised civilians by cutting off arms, legs, ears and noses, leaving thousands of people mutilated.
Taylor's trial before the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone was moved from Freetown to The Hague because there were fears his presence in the African country could destabilize the region.
