Lawyers for Taylor told the court in The Hague that their client was a 'broker of peace' [Reuters]

He made the comments as he took the stand at his trial in The Hague, in the Netherlands, on Tuesday.

Taylor denied the 11 charges against him, which include murder, rape, the conscription of child soldiers, and backing a rebel group known for mutilating its opponents.

"It is very, very, very unfortunate that the prosecution's disinformation, misinformation, lies and rumours would associate me with such titles," he said.

"It is quite incredible that such descriptions of me would come about. I am none of these, I have never been and never will be, whether they think so or not."

'Peace broker'

Taylor's lawyers began their defence on Monday at the court in The Hague, which is conducting the trial at the request of the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

They argued on Monday that Taylor - the first African leader to be tried before an international tribunal for war crimes and crimes against humanity - tried to broker peace in Sierra Leone rather than fuel civil war.

Estimates of the 1991-2001 conflict's death toll run as high as 200,000.

Prosecutors, who closed their case in February, said Taylor armed and supported the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), a rebel movement that sought to destabilise the government, and attempted to gain control of Sierra Leone's diamond mines.

Taylor has been on trial at The Hague since June 2007 at facilities provided by the International Criminal Court.

The Special Court for Sierra Leone is headquartered in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, but the trial is taking place in the Dutch capital due to concerns it may trigger violence in Sierra Leone.

In May, judges at the Special Court for Sierra Leone ruled against a defence request to acquit Taylor of war-crimes charges, saying the prosecution had produced enough evidence supporting a conviction.

However, Judge Richard Lussick has stressed that the ruling does not mean Taylor would be convicted.

A final verdict is expected in a year's time.

Recommend this article...

Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto: