Article

2004-07-26 Africa: Subsaharan

A court in Nigeria's capital is set to resume preliminary hearings in a case against the former Liberian president. Charles Taylor has been in exile in south-east Nigeria since last August, after its government gave him asylum. The prosecution want Mr Taylor's asylum to be lifted so that he can face charges of war crimes against humanity in the UN-backed Sierra Leone tribunal. The tribunal accuses him of supporting the RUF rebel movement in return for a share of Sierra Leone's diamond wealth. The case in Abuja is brought by two Nigerian businessmen who travelled to Sierra Leone in 1999, and say that while they were there they were mutilated by rebels of the Revolutionary United Front. Emmanuel Egbuna had both his hands severed at the wrist, while David Anyaele lost his arms and was then set alight. The men claim the rebels were acting on the orders of then Liberian president Mr Taylor.

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo granted Mr Taylor asylum last year on the condition that he does not involve himself in the peace process in Liberia, but the lawyers for the two men are challenging the legitimacy of the move. Mr Taylor has been living in exile with family and friends in the quiet Nigerian town of Calabar since last year, and the Nigerian government has so far resisted local and international pressure to hand him over to the war crimes tribunal.

Posted by Fred 2004-07-26 11:27:04 PM|| || Front Page|| [11133 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I would call for diplomatic pressure on Nigeria, if I didn't think they did everyone involved a big favour by taking Chuckles on as a lodger,

Posted by Super Hose 2004-07-26 1:41:38 AM|| 2004-07-26 1:41:38 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Agreed. Nigeria is doing the right thing by not handing over this villain. When you want to get a dictator to leave peacefully, he needs to trust the country giving him asylum--he needs to know he won't get justice. Sickening, but unavoidable . . .

Posted by James 2004-07-26 4:33:43 PM|| [http://www.idontknowbut.blogspot.com] 2004-07-26 4:33:43 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Can't we just arrange for Taylor to like, ya know, die or something?

Posted by Zenster 2004-07-26 7:18:29 PM|| 2004-07-26 7:18:29 PM|| Front Page Top

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