Taylor calls spiritual advisor

2006-04-03 11:37

Freetown - Charles Taylor asked his spiritual adviser late on Sunday to contact lawyers in the United States and Britain about his defence against charges at an international war crimes tribunal in Sierra Leone.

In a telephone conversation with Indian evangelist Kilari Anand Paul, the Liberian warlord said "bring two attorneys. Bring them any way you can. I need somebody to take charge of this defence immediately ... (I need) to put things into motion because we have only 30 days to answer the indictment."

Paul had included an Associated Press reporter in the conference call with Taylor, who spoke from a prison cell at the tribunal. But the reporter was not allowed to ask questions for fear prison authorities would disconnect the call.

Paul later told The AP that Taylor had asked him to contact a top law professor at Harvard University, in Boston, and a senior Queen's Council lawyer in Britain.

Taylor is to go to court on Monday, where he will be read 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including sexual slavery and mutilation, for his alleged part in fostering Sierra Leone's 1991-2002 civil war.

- AP