Charles Taylor on Trial

"...Taylor is said to have financed and supported Foday Sankoh's Revolutionary United Front (RUF) with material and personnel, providing weapons, ammunition and training. With the aim of destabilizing the country and accessing the natural resources of Sierra Leone (mainly diamonds), he allegedly supported the RUF in the preparation of military actions and during the ensuing conflict..."

"...According to the indictment, the attacks were accompanied by murders, physical violence (especially mutilations and rape) against civilian men, women and children, pillaging and abductions of civilians (in particular many children) as sexual slaves, forced laborers or forced recruits. These acts were allegedly encouraged or executed with the consent or on order of Charles Taylor..."