NIGERIA WILL TRANSFER FORMER LIBERIAN PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR, WHO IS LIVING IN EXILE IN NIGERIA AND HAS BEEN INDICTED FOR WAR CRIMES, TO LIBERIAN CUSTODY, THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT SAID ON SATURDAY, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. THE FORMER WARLORD IS SEEN AS THE MASTERMIND BEHIND ONCE INTERTWINED CIVIL WARS IN LIBERIA AND NEIGHBOURING SIERRA LEONE, WHERE A SPECIAL U.N.-BACKED COURT WANTS TO TRY HIM FOR SUPPORTING BRUTAL REBELS IN EXCHANGE FOR DIAMONDS. 'PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO HAS TODAY ... INFORMED PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON-SIRLEAF THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA IS FREE TO TAKE FORMER PRESIDENT CHARLES TAYLOR INTO ITS CUSTODY,' THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT SAID IN A STATEMENT. JOHNSON-SIRLEAF, LIBERIA'S FIRST POST-WAR PRESIDENT WHO TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY, HAD ASKED NIGERIA TO CONSIDER HANDING OVER TAYLOR SO HE COULD STAND TRIAL AT THE SIERRA LEONE COURT. JOHNSON-SIRLEAF ARRIVED HOME ON SATURDAY FROM THE UNITED STATES BUT MADE NO PUBLIC COMMENT. A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SAID THERE WAS NO INDICATION YET OF WHEN TAYLOR MIGHT BE TRANSFERRED.
