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Court Rejects Charles Taylor Bid to Serve Prison Term in Rwanda


FILE - Former Liberian President Charles Taylor, during his appeal judgement at the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) in Leidschendam, near The Hague, Netherlands, Sept. 26, 2013.
FILE - Former Liberian President Charles Taylor, during his appeal judgement at the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) in Leidschendam, near The Hague, Netherlands, Sept. 26, 2013.

An international court has denied a request from former Liberian president Charles Taylor to serve the rest of his 50-year prison sentence in Rwanda.

The Special Court for Sierra Leone ruled Wednesday there are no reasons why Taylor should not serve out his prison term in Britain's Frankland Prison.

Taylor was jailed there in September 2013, after the court's appeals chamber upheld his conviction on charges of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity during Sierra Leone's civil war.

The former Liberian leader argued his prison conditions in Britain are unsafe and degrading, and that his wife and daughters are unable to visit him.

The court said conditions of his imprisonment meet international standards, and his wife has not complied with British visa requirements.

Taylor led Liberia from 1997 to 2003, when he resigned under increasing pressure at home and abroad. He was later arrested and turned over to the Sierra Leone court.

Prosecutors said that in exchange for raw diamonds, Taylor armed and gave guidance to rebel forces who killed or mutilated thousands of people during the war.

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