Taylor war crimes trial extended

Charles Taylor is accused of selling “blood diamonds” from Sierra Leone

It is not clear whether the former Liberian president, Charles Taylor, will return to court in The Hague as his war crimes trial draws to a close.

Mr Taylor and his defence lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, staged a boycott of the court earlier this week after a disagreement with the judges.

The ex-leader faces 11 counts – including murder, rape, and the conscription of child soldiers during Sierra Leone’s civil war in the 1990s.

He denies all the charges.

The end of this marathon trial has been marked by bad tempered exchanges between the judges and Charles Taylor’s defence team.

His lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths, walked out of court in protest on Tuesday, and later Mr Taylor also mounted a boycott.

They are upset at the court’s refusal to accept a 500 page written summary of the trial that was submitted late.

But the judges have ordered Mr Griffiths to return to the courtroom, and to apologise for his behaviour.

Mr Griffiths has told the BBC he will appear on Friday, but he would not say what Charles Taylor intends to do.

By now, the court should have heard the closing arguments from the defence.

The absence of Mr Taylor and his lawyer have made this impossible.

This is supposed to be the close of the trial, with the judges expected to deliver a verdict later in the year.

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