The imprisoned former Liberian president Charles Taylor has
categorically denied working as a United States spy and vows to sue the
Boston Globe newspaper that made the revelation.
Reacting to the publication through his Jamaican-born lawyer Courtenay Griffiths, Taylor said he has never worked or played any role on behalf of any US government intelligence agency in his “personal capacity”.
But he acknowledged that the Liberian Security agencies as well as his National Patriotic Party of Liberia worked or associated with US intelligence organs but not himself personally.
Last week, the US-based Boston Globe
newspaper exposed Taylor’s past role as a US intelligence informant.
The expose had been confirmed by the US Defence Department acting on a
Freedom of Information Act inquiry which the newspaper had lodged six
years ago.
The Globe indicated that Taylor had been recruited to spy on the late Libyan later Muammar Gaddafi’s networks. Before launching the civil war in Liberia in the 80s, Taylor had been trained as a guerrilla leader in Libya.
Mr Griffiths said his client found it offensive for the Globe to publish what he claimed was “pure speculation”.
Awaiting verdict
Taylor’s reaction was carried prominently by several newspapers in Liberia on Monday. Through his lawyer, he said he was said his client is contemplating on a legal battle with the Boston Globe with the help of American lawyers.
He also insisted that the newspaper present a copy of any correspondence that the US government, the Defence Intelligence Agency or the Central Intelligence Agency sent to the Globe in response to its request either six years ago or recently.
© Africa Review
Reacting to the publication through his Jamaican-born lawyer Courtenay Griffiths, Taylor said he has never worked or played any role on behalf of any US government intelligence agency in his “personal capacity”.
But he acknowledged that the Liberian Security agencies as well as his National Patriotic Party of Liberia worked or associated with US intelligence organs but not himself personally.
Last week, the US-based Boston Globe
newspaper exposed Taylor’s past role as a US intelligence informant.
The expose had been confirmed by the US Defence Department acting on a
Freedom of Information Act inquiry which the newspaper had lodged six
years ago.The Globe indicated that Taylor had been recruited to spy on the late Libyan later Muammar Gaddafi’s networks. Before launching the civil war in Liberia in the 80s, Taylor had been trained as a guerrilla leader in Libya.
Awaiting verdict
Taylor’s reaction was carried prominently by several newspapers in Liberia on Monday. Through his lawyer, he said he was said his client is contemplating on a legal battle with the Boston Globe with the help of American lawyers.
He also insisted that the newspaper present a copy of any correspondence that the US government, the Defence Intelligence Agency or the Central Intelligence Agency sent to the Globe in response to its request either six years ago or recently.
© Africa Review
For more information about Charles Taylor, please read Charles Taylor and Liberia by Colin Waugh
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