The charges against Charles Taylor

Former Liberian President Charles Ghankay Taylor is in detention in the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone, facing 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Charles Taylor is accused of giving Sierra Leone rebels a safe haven in Liberia

He is accused of funding Sierra Leone's former rebels, the Revolutionary United Front by selling diamonds on their behalf and buying weapons for them.

RUF fighters were notorious for hacking off the arms and legs of the civilian population with machetes, as well as killing, raping and robbing them.

Here are the charges:

• CAH = Crimes Against Humanity
• WC = Violation of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II (war crimes)
• VIHL = Other serious violation of international humanitarian law

Terrorising the civilian population and collective punishments

1 Acts of terrorism (WC)

Unlawful killings

2 Murder (CAH)

3 Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular murder (WC)

Sexual violence

4 Rape (CAH)

5 Sexual slavery and any other form of sexual violence (CAH)

6 Outrages upon personal dignity (WC)

Physical violence

7 Violence to life, health and physical or mental well-being of persons, in particular cruel treatment (WC)

8 Other inhumane acts (CAH)

Use of child soldiers

9 Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups, or using them to participate actively in hostilities (VIHL)

Abductions and forced labour

10 Enslavement (CAH)

Looting

11 Pillage (WC)