BBC NEWS | Africa | Liberia war crimes trial to begin

BBC NEWS | Africa | Liberia war crimes trial to begin: "The former president of Liberia, Charles Taylor, is due to go on trial for war crimes in The Hague on Monday.

He has been accused of supporting rebels in Sierra Leone, who conducted an 11-year campaign in which thousands of civilians were killed or maimed.

The trial is being conducted by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone and has been moved away from West Africa for security reasons.

It is the first time a former African head of state has faced such a trial.

The trial is expected to last for a year to 18 months, and the UK has offered to imprison Mr Taylor if he is convicted." Read complete post here.