Taylor pleads not guilty at trial
Charles Taylor listened impassively as the charges were read out Former Liberian President Charles Taylor has pleaded not guilty to all charges in his first appearance at a war crimes court in Sierra Leone. He initially refused to plead, saying the UN-backed special court in Freetown had no authority to try him.
He faces charges for allegedly backing Revolutionary United Front rebels in Sierra Leone's 1991-2002 civil war.
They committed widespread atrocities, such as chopping off people's limbs, as they fought to topple the government.
Mr Taylor was transferred to Sierra Leone last week after being arrested in Nigeria.
Nigeria had given him asylum under an agreement to end Liberia's own civil war in 2003.
Detailed charge sheet
Security was tight at the court in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, as Mr Taylor arrived for his first appearance.
Most definitely, I... could not have committed these acts against the sister republic of Sierra Leone
Charles Taylor
The charges against Taylor In pictures: Taylor trial Wearing a dark suit and red tie, Mr Taylor listened impassively as 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity were read out, the BBC's Mark Doyle in Freetown says.
Before pleading not guilty, Mr Taylor told the judge: "I do not recognise the jurisdiction of this court."
The judge dismissed this argument and asked again how he pleaded. Mr Taylor responded: "Most definitely, I did not and could not have committed these acts against the sister republic of Sierra Leone."
Mr Taylor has not yet picked his own defence team so was represented by court-appointed lawyers.
Shortly after pleading he was taken back under heavy security to his cell within the court compound.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4871584.stm
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