afrol News, 6 April - The former Liberian President Charles Taylor's lawyers are seeking the leader’s acquittal saying there is no evidence linking him as a key instigator of the 10-year civil war in neighbouring Sierra Leone.

The civil conflict marked by brutal attacks on civilians, drug-crazed child soldiers and amputations of limbs, killed more that 250, 000 people in Liberia and Sierra Leone for more than a decade.

Mr Taylor's lawyer, Morris Anyah, said the evidence presented to The Hague's Special Court for Sierra Leone is not sufficient or capable of supporting a conviction of the former leader.

The lawyer said it did not deny terrible crimes that took place in Sierra Leone or that citizens there faced, however said there was no evidence linking Mr Taylor to the planning, instigation and execution of those crimes.

Mr Taylor who has been on trial since June 2007 is charged with 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, stemming from the 1991-2001 civil war in the West African country.

He is also accused of having armed, trained and controlled Sierra Leone's notorious Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels and of involvement in the "blood diamonds" to finance the conflict.

Mr Taylor, the first former African head of state to stand trial before any court has however pleaded not guilty to the 11 counts including murder, rape, conscripting child soldiers and sexual slavery.

The Sierra Leone court was set up to try those with the greatest responsibility for the war crimes the country.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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