Charles Taylor is on trial for his alleged role in Sierra Leone's decade long civil war. The prosecution says that Mr. Taylor - then president of Liberia -- controlled rebel forces in Sierra Leone who raped, murdered, and mutilated thousands of civilians. (1)_________________________. The prosecution says Mr. Taylor traded diamonds mined in Sierra Leone for weapons, which he smuggled into the country.
Prosecutors say the gift that Mr. Taylor allegedly gave to Campbell links him to so-called "blood diamonds".Although the 3 witnesses have varying (2)_________________________, police in South Africa say the stones given to Campbell are diamonds. Campbell had given the stones to then head of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund Jeremy Ratcliffe, who recently handed them to police. Police spokesperson Musa Zondi:" The appearance at The Hague of international celebrities has turned the world's attention to Mr. Taylor's trial."
Campaigners say it's helped to shine a spotlight on the violent consequences of the trade in illicit diamonds - a spotlight they hope will remain even after the celebrities have left. Charles Taylor has been charged by the Special Tribunal for Sierra Leone with 11 war crimes charges, including murder, rape, sexual enslavement and recruiting child soldiers. He has pleaded not guilty on all counts. (3)_________________________after Sierra Leone's Civil War, which ended in 2002.
