THE HAGUE, Netherlands – A former Sierra Leone rebel serving a 52-year prison sentence told a war crimes tribunal yesterday that he never gave so-called “blood diamonds” to former Liberian President Charles Taylor.Issa Sesay was a surprise witness for the defense in the case of the former Liberian leader.Charles Taylor is accused of supporting the rebels during Sierre Leone’s 11-year civil war in exchange for diamonds and other natural resources from the west African country. The war killed an estimated 500 000 people, with some of the worst atrocities committed by child soldiers who were drugged to desensitise them.Sesay said he had no knowledge of other rebel leaders giving Taylor gems, and said the leadership of the Revolutionary United Front was “strained.” (AP)
