Taylor boycotting own war crimes trial

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, June 25 (UPI) -- Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is boycotting his own war crimes trial at The Hague, the BBC reported Monday.

No official reason for the decision has been given.

"(Taylor) said the chamber knows why," said court official Vincent Nmehielle.

But Judge Julia Sebutinde contradicted that statement, arguing: "For the record, the chamber does not know. We have not officially been informed why Mr. Taylor is not in court."

The former warlord refused to show for the trial's June 4 opening, complaining that he couldn't get a fair trial in The Hague's International Criminal Court and about having a single attorney to defend him.

At that time, Sebutinde ordered the trial to continue without Taylor and the prosecution delivered its opening statements.

Although Taylor is accused of financing rebels in Sierra Leone during an 11-year campaign that left thousands of civilians dead, the former leader denies all the charges.

Taylor, who was forced out of office by rival militias and went into exile in Nigeria in 2003, is accused of such war atrocities and crimes against humanity as terrorism, murder, rape, sexual enslavement and the use of child soldiers.

This is the first case of its kind brought against him.