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Another delay for Taylor war crimes trial

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, July 3 (UPI) -- The war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor has been postponed again at The Hague so a new defense team may be appointed.

After refusing to attend previous hearings -- insisting the defense lawyers offered to him were no match for the highly skilled team working for the prosecution -- Taylor appeared for the first time at his trial, the BBC reported Tuesday.

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However, the jurist overseeing his case said further proceedings would be delayed until Aug. 20, so the attorney Taylor dismissed could be replaced and have time to prepare, in keeping with Taylor's right to a fair trial.

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 a former African head of state, the BBC noted.

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