THE PROSECUTOR OF THE U.N.-BACKED SPECIAL COURT SEEKING TO TRY FORMER LIBERIAN PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR FOR WAR CRIMES IN SIERRA LEONE ON SUNDAY ASKED NIGERIA TO ARREST TAYLOR TO PREVENT HIS ESCAPE. THE URGENT REQUEST BY PROSECUTOR DESMOND DE SILVA REFLECTED CONCERN THAT TAYLOR, IN EXILE IN NIGERIA SINCE 2003, MIGHT TRY TO ABSCOND AFTER THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT SAID ON SATURDAY THAT LIBERIAN AUTHORITIES WERE FREE TO TAKE HIM INTO CUSTODY. TAYLOR IS SEEN AS THE MASTERMIND BEHIND ONCE LINKED CIVIL WARS IN LIBERIA AND SIERRA LEONE, WHERE HE IS ACCUSED OF HAVING SUPPORTED REBELS NOTORIOUS FOR THEIR BRUTALITY IN EXCHANGE FOR DIAMONDS. SIERRA LEONE'S 1991-2002 CIVIL WAR COST SOME 50,000 LIVES. SOME OF TAYLOR'S AIDES AND SUPPORTERS HAVE WARNED THAT BRINGING HIM TO TRIAL WOULD SPARK VIOLENCE IN LIBERIA. SATURDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT BY NIGERIAN PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO DID NOT SAY THAT NIGERIAN AUTHORITIES WOULD THEMSELVES HOLD TAYLOR AND HAND HIM OVER, AND THIS VAGUENESS RAISED FEARS THAT HE MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE TO ESCAPE. 'I HAVE REQUESTED PRESIDENT OBASANJO TO HAVE HIS AUTHORITIES EXECUTE THE WARRANT FOR THE ARREST OF CHARLES TAYLOR ISSUED BY THE SPECIAL COURT AND TRANSMITTED TO NIGERIA IN 2003,' DE SILVA SAID IN A STATEMENT SENT TO REUTERS FROM FREETOWN.
