Liberia's former president, Charles Taylor, is standing on trial at The Hague international criminal court for war crimes in connection with the civil war in Sierra Leone between the years 1991-2000. The charges attributed to Taylor include murder, rape, enslavement, pillage, conscription of child soldiers as well as massive amputations in Sierra Leone. Taylor allegedly accomplished these through the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). He is the first African leader to ever be tried at the international tribunal for war crimes and crimes against humanity, Sky News reports.

Testifying before the court, Taylor denied receiving a jar full of diamonds from the RUF in return for the weapons used to amputate thousands of civilians, saying "Never, ever did I receive - whether it is mayonnaise or coffee or whatever jar - any diamonds from the RUF. It's a lie, a diabolical lie." However, prosecutor Stephen Rapp insists "blood diamonds" were used to finance the warlord's ambition for control of the area. Overall, 120,000 people were killed, Sky News Reports.

Taylor took presidency in 1997 through a violent rebellion, until 2003 when he was exiled by a second rebellion.