Former Liberian president boycotts his war crimes trial

Former Liberian president boycotts his war crimes trial

By Faith Karimi, CNN
February 9, 2011 -- Updated 1214 GMT (2014 HKT)

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(CNN) -- Former Liberian President Charles Taylor boycotted his war crimes trial again Wednesday after judges rejected a delayed summary from his defense team, a court official said.

Taylor is the first African ruler to appear before an international war crimes tribunal. He is accused of fueling a bloody civil war in Liberia and neighboring Sierra Leone that led to widespread murder, rapes and mutilation.

The former president has pleaded not guilty to charges that include crimes against humanity and war crimes.

His lawyers first walked out Tuesday after a tribunal declined to accept their trial summary because it was filed after a January 14 deadline, a court spokesman said.

His defense team walked out first, then Taylor refused to return to the courtroom after a break, said Solomon Moriba, a spokesman for The Hague court in the Netherlands.

"He indicated he was deeply upset and needed to rest," Moriba said.

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