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At
trial proceedings on Wednesday, a statement was read in open court
in which the former Special Representative of the UN Secretary
General of the UN to Sierra Leone Ambassador Oluyemi Adeniji is
quoted as saying leaders of ECOWAS at the time were supportive of
former RUF interim leader Mr. Issa Hassan Sesay taking over the
leadership of the rebel group from Foday Sankoh after peace
negotiations became stalled.
The
former U.N official in his statement, however, said he could not
clearly remember the circumstances which led to the appointment of
Mr. Sesay as RUF interim leader.
Mr.
Sesay is presently providing testimony as a defense witness in the
trial of the former Liberian President Charles Taylor who is
facing multiple counts of war crimes allegations and charges that
he directly supported, financed an controlled rebels in
neighboring Sierra Leone in exchange for influence and control of
the lucrative diamond trade in the region.
Mr.
Taylor has denied all of the allegations and has been putting up a
fierce defense, claiming he is being demonized by the
international community.
The
former RUF interim leader Mr. Sesay denied claims that he
was appointed as leader of the RUF in May 2000 by Mr. Taylor.
According to the witness who was convicted by the U.N backed
Special Court for Sierra Leone along with 2 others is currently
serving a 52 year sentence in Rwanda.Others
found guilty in February, 2009 of crimes against humanity and war
crimes committed during the internal armed conflict that took
place in Sierra Leone between 1991 and 2002 are Morris Kallon and
Augustine Gbao.
Former RUF commander Morris Kallon will serve a maximum of 39
years. Commander Augustine Gbao will spend 25 years in prison.
In his testimony Mr. Sesay
said disclosed that his appointment as leader of the RUF
at a meeting in Liberia was made by West African leaders
at the time including former Liberian President Charles Taylor,
former Malian president Alpha Oumar Konare,
Gambian president Yayah Jammeh,
former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo and late Togolese
president Gnassingbe Eyadema.
The
testimony of Mr. Sesay and the statement of the former UN official
to Sierra Leone is an attempt by the defense team of Mr.. Taylor
led by the British national Barrister Courtenay Griffiths to
distance the accused from charges that he controlled and
supported the RUF rebels while he was President of Liberia.
The
trial continues.
By Staff Writer
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