Liberia's Taylor transferred to Freetown after short stay at home

Former Liberian president Charles Taylor, arrested in northeast Nigeria on Wednesday morning 24 hours after his escape, left for the special court in Sierra Leone after a short stay at his homeland's airport.

Reports from the capital's Roberts International Airport said Taylor, wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity, was picked up from a Nigerian presidential jet and transferred to Freetown via a UN helicopter by the UN Mission in Liberia.

The Liberian government officials and the UN mission in the tiny west African state were tight lipped on the Taylor's transfer.

But a source at the Liberian president's office who did not want to be identified told Xinhua: "The Taylor's transfer issue was between the Nigerian government and the international community. Liberia has already played its role by requesting the handover of Taylor."

Liberia's new leader Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is expected to address the nation at about 1800 GMT on Wednesday, at which time it is expected that she would comment on Taylor's transfer.

Source: Xinhua