Liberia's Taylor absent as war crimes trial starts

THE HAGUE, June 4 (Reuters) Liberia's former President Charles Taylor stayed away from the start of his war crimes trial at The Hague today, saying he had lost confidence in the UN-backed court for Sierra Leone.

''Your honours, it is with great sadness and regret that I write to inform you that I no longer feel able to participate in proceedings against me,'' Taylor said in a letter read by his lawyer.

''At one time I had hoped and had confidence in the court's ability to dispense justice in a fair and impartial manner. At this time it has become clear that such confidence is misplaced,'' he said.

Taylor, 59, has pleaded not guilty to the 11 counts at the Special Court for Sierra Leone. He is charged with instigating murder, rape, mutilation and the recruitment of child soldiers in the 1991-2002 civil war that left 50,000 dead.

Prosecutors and human rights campaigners hope the case will send a message that nobody can expect to escape punishment for atrocities -- including heads of state.

Even among Africa's horrific wars, the fighting in Sierra Leone stood out for its exceptional brutality -- casual murder, mass rapes, the hacking of limbs from civilians and the press ganging of child soldiers as young as eight.

REUTERS AE ND1445