THE HAGUE (July 13) – Defence counsel for former Liberian president Charles Taylor, on trial for war crimes, argued on Monday that he had been trying to broker peace not foment violence in Sierra Leone’s 1991-2002 civil war.

Taylor, 61, who is charged with instigating murder, rape, mutilation, conscripting child soldiers and sexual slavery, is himself expected to take the stand for several weeks from Tuesday at the Special Court for Sierra Leone.