The BBC Friday said Vamba Sherif, brother of former Taylor aide Varmuyan Sherif, was threatened directly and in leaflets distributed at the family compound in Monrovia.

Varmuyan Sherif testified at the war crimes trial at The Hague Taylor established safe houses in Monrovia for rebel fighters from the Revolutionary United Front traveling to Liberia from Sierra Leone.

Taylor is accused of exploiting regional conflict diamonds and funding RUF rebels during the 1991-2001 civil war in Sierra Leone.

Taylor is charged with 11 counts of crimes against humanity, war crimes, conscripting child soldiers and sexual slavery.