Wanted Liberian warlord disappears in Nigeria
Felix Onuah
Reuters
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Abuja (Nigeria):
Former Liberian president Charles Taylor, wanted for war crimes by a court in Sierra Leone, has disappeared from his residence in southeastern Nigeria, the Nigerian presidency said on Tuesday.
The disappearance appeared to be a major embarrassment for Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was due to fly on Tuesday to the United States, because Washington has been pressing for Taylor's handover for years.
Taylor had lived in Nigeria since 2003, when he stepped down as part of a deal to end Liberia's 14-year civil war that spilled over into nearby countries.
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See Also:
Warlord pulls off African Great Escape
Fear grips Liberians over reports of Taylor's disappearance
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Taylor disappeared on Monday night, two days after Nigeria said Liberia was free to take him into its custody.Nigeria and Liberia were at odds about where he should go and confusion has reigned about his whereabouts since the Nigerian announcement.
In Sierra Leone, Taylor stands accused of supporting rebels notorious for hacking off the limbs of civilians, in exchange for diamonds to finance the Liberian conflict.The two conflicts claimed an estimated 300,000 lives and spawned a generation of child soldiers.
Mar 28, 2006
Felix Onuah
Reuters
_____
Abuja (Nigeria):
Former Liberian president Charles Taylor, wanted for war crimes by a court in Sierra Leone, has disappeared from his residence in southeastern Nigeria, the Nigerian presidency said on Tuesday.
The disappearance appeared to be a major embarrassment for Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was due to fly on Tuesday to the United States, because Washington has been pressing for Taylor's handover for years.
Taylor had lived in Nigeria since 2003, when he stepped down as part of a deal to end Liberia's 14-year civil war that spilled over into nearby countries.
______________
See Also:
Warlord pulls off African Great Escape
Fear grips Liberians over reports of Taylor's disappearance
______________
Taylor disappeared on Monday night, two days after Nigeria said Liberia was free to take him into its custody.Nigeria and Liberia were at odds about where he should go and confusion has reigned about his whereabouts since the Nigerian announcement.
In Sierra Leone, Taylor stands accused of supporting rebels notorious for hacking off the limbs of civilians, in exchange for diamonds to finance the Liberian conflict.The two conflicts claimed an estimated 300,000 lives and spawned a generation of child soldiers.
Mar 28, 2006
