Liberia’s Taylor plans an appeal

19 June 2012 Last updated at 11:03 GMT

Former Liberian President Charles Taylor attends his trial at the Special Court for Sierra Leone based in Leidschendam, outside The Hague, 16 May 2012Charles Taylor has always maintained his innocence

Liberia’s ex-President Charles Taylor is to appeal against his conviction by a UN-backed war crimes court, his lawyers say.

He was jailed for 50 years for aiding and abetting rebels in Sierra Leone during the 1991-2002 civil war.

Taylor, 64, was found to have supplied weapons to the Revolutionary United Front rebels in exchange for a constant flow of so-called blood diamonds.

Taylor’s lawyers submitted the document to the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

‘Heavy footprint’

At the time of his sentencing, his lawyer told the BBC he would launch an appeal – Taylor insists he is innocent.

The court said in a brief statement that Taylor’s defence lawyers have now filed a formal notice of their intention to do so, AP reports.

When convicting Taylor, Judge Richard Lussick said: “While Mr Taylor never set foot in Sierra Leone, his heavy footprint is there.”

“The lives of many more innocent civilians in Sierra Leone were lost or destroyed as a direct result of his actions,” the judge said.

If his appeal fails, Taylor will serve his sentence in a British jail.