A UN helicopter transporting former Liberian President Charles Taylor, who has been indicted for war crimes, arrived Wednesday in Sierra Leone, where he is now being held by the UN-backed court for the country.
Mr. Taylor is currently in the detention facility of the Court and the in-processing has been initiated.
Earlier Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that he was “relieved” at the recapture of former President Taylor, who absconded (undveg) from his home in Nigeria Tuesday, where he had been exiled three years ago as part of a peace deal that helped bring an end to Liberias decade of civil war.
Mr. Annan “strongly believes the capture and trial of Taylor will send a powerful message to the region and beyond that impunity will not be allowed to stand and that the rule of law must prevail.”
Mr. Taylor had been indicted by the UN-backed court in Sierra Leone on charges related to his support for rebels in that country.
Mr. Annan had called for all countries in the region to refuse Mr. Taylor refuge and “to execute the warrant for his arrest issued by the Special Court and comply with the request of the elected President of Liberia, Ms Ellen Johnson Sirleaf that he be handed over to her Government, which will in turn transfer him to the Special Court.”
Kilde: FNs nyhedstjeneste
