The trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor on charges of directing atrocities in Sierra Leone resumes in The Hague today.
Former Liberian president Charles Taylor
Mr Taylor (59), once one of Africa's most feared warlords, faces charges of rape, murder, mutilation and recruitment of child soldiers at the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, set up to try those most responsible for the 1991-2002 conflict.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Mr Taylor is accused of trying to gain control of Sierra Leone's mineral wealth, particularly its diamond mines, and seeking to destabilise its government by supplying the Revolutionary United Front rebels.
Prosecutors have said their first witness will be an expert on the trade in conflict diamonds, followed by a victim of the violence in Sierra Leone, and then an insider once close to Taylor's regime.
Prosecutors are hoping to wrap up their case in around eight months. They expect a judgment by the end of 2009, though an appeal would likely stretch into 2010.
Mr Taylor boycotted the opening of his trial last June in a dispute over the resources allocated to his defence. More funds were eventually made available to him, and a new defence team was appointed in July.