AfricaNews Monitoring Team with files from BBC
Liberia's ex-President Charles Taylor has been sentenced to 50 years in jail by a UN-backed war crimes court. Last month Taylor was found guilty of aiding and abetting rebels in Sierra Leone during the 1991-2002 civil war. Special Court for Sierra Leone judges said the sentence reflected his status as head of state at the time of the crimes and betrayal of public trust.
Taylor, 64, insists he is innocent and is likely to appeal against the sentence. The appeal process could last up to six months..
During the sentencing, Judge Richard Lussick said the crimes in Sierra Leone were some of the most heinous in human history.
The prosecution had wanted an 80-year prison term, but the judge said that would have been excessive - taking into account the limited scope of his involvement in planning operations in Sierra Leone.
Taylor was accused of channelling weapons to them in return for "blood diamonds" but the judge said the prosecution had failed to prove their case that he had given orders to the RUF.
The case is being heard in The Hague for fear that a trial in Sierra Leone could destabilise the region. The Dutch government only agreed if Taylor would serve any sentence in another country, so he will serve any prison term in the UK.
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