Taylor sentenced to 50 years

Pretoria - Former Liberian President Charles Taylor has been sentenced to 50 years imprisonment by an international tribunal.

Taylor, 64, was convicted last month of all 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity pertaining to his involvement in the decade-long civil war in Sierra Leone.

According to the judges, Taylor breached international humanitarian law, including grave offences such as murder, rape, sexual slavery, acts of terror and conscription of children into an armed force, among others.

Taylor is the first African head of state to be brought before an international tribunal.