Akhir 05 , 1432 H. / March 10, 2011 -- Judges at a special United Nations court in the Netherlands on Friday started their deliberations in the war crimes trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor, after the prosecution delivered its closing argument, dpa reported. Taylor faces 11 charges, including murder, rape and crimes against humanity. A verdict is expected in the summer. Prosecutors portrayed him as a "warlord" who armed and controlled rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone during its bloody 10-year civil war. Taylor is also accused of pocketing a large amount of looted diamonds as part of the weapon deliveries. He has dismissed the allegations as a "pack of lies." His defence lawyer earlier this week argued that the case smacked of "neocolonialism" and accused the prosecution of having been unable to provide "proof beyond reasonable doubt." More than 100 witnesses provided testimonies during the trial, including supermodel Naomi Campbell, which has lasted more than three years. Taylor's case is the only trial of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, located in the Dutch town of Leidschendam. Its other proceedings against leading rebel representatives were conducted in Sierra Leone. More than 120,000 people died in the African country's civil war until it ended with the deployment of West African peacekeepers in 1999. The rebels' Revolutionary United Front is also accused of committing numerous other atrocities. -- SPA
