Liberia wants Taylor tried for war crimes

NEW YORK – Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said she wants ex-president Charles Taylor handed over to a war crimes tribunal for prosecution for his role in Sierra Leone’s civil war, with the agreement of African leaders.

Taylor was given asylum in Nigeria to help end the war and Johnson-Sirleaf said on Friday she and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo agreed at a recent meeting to seek African leaders’ views before any handover. “I have consulted with Nigerian President Obasanjo and asked him that we and the leaders of Africa, particularly those that were involved in the arrangements that took Mr Taylor to exile, now bring this matter to closure – and by closure I mean that that decision should be taken that would allow Mr Taylor to have his day in court,” Sirleaf said.”We have also asked that in doing so, once the African leader decides upon that path, that they ensure that Mr Taylor has an opportunity for proceedings that are in an environment that is not hostile, that he has the full right of self-defence,” she told a news conference after addressing the United Nations Security Council.Earlier, Obasanjo’s office said Liberia had asked for Taylor’s extradition.It said the Nigerian president was consulting with leaders from the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, or Ecowas, who helped broker Taylor’s exile on how to respond.Obasanjo had said he would consider any request by a democratically elected Liberian leader.- Nampa-AP”I have consulted with Nigerian President Obasanjo and asked him that we and the leaders of Africa, particularly those that were involved in the arrangements that took Mr Taylor to exile, now bring this matter to closure – and by closure I mean that that decision should be taken that would allow Mr Taylor to have his day in court,” Sirleaf said.”We have also asked that in doing so, once the African leader decides upon that path, that they ensure that Mr Taylor has an opportunity for proceedings that are in an environment that is not hostile, that he has the full right of self-defence,” she told a news conference after addressing the United Nations Security Council.Earlier, Obasanjo’s office said Liberia had asked for Taylor’s extradition.It said the Nigerian president was consulting with leaders from the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, or Ecowas, who helped broker Taylor’s exile on how to respond.Obasanjo had said he would consider any request by a democratically elected Liberian leader.- Nampa-AP