This week, an international courtfound former Liberian president Charles Taylorguilty of war crimes in Sierra Leone.Charles Taylor stood silentlyas Presiding Judge Richard Lussick read the judgmentby a special United Nations court in The Hague.RICHARD LUSSICK: "The trial chamber unanimously finds you guilty of aiding and abetting the commission of the following crimes pursuant to article 6.1 of the statute;planning the commission of the following crimesin the attacks on Kono and Makeni in December 1998,and in the invasion of and retreat from Freetownbetween December 1998 and February 1999 ..."The reading of the judgment -- which includeddetails of terrible crimes -- lasted two hours.The judges found the sixty-four-year-old former presidentguilty of helping rebels from the Revolutionary United Front.The rebels killed tens of thousands of peopleand terrorized civilians during Sierra Leone's civil war.The war lasted from nineteen ninety-one to two thousand two.Crimes by the RUF included murder, rape,drafting of child soldiers and sexual slavery.Judge Lussick said Charles Taylorwas publicly involved in peace effortswhile secretly financing the hostilities.The court said he received what are called blood diamonds,mined in eastern Sierra Leone.In return, he provided arms, ammunition,communications equipment and planning help to the rebels.But there was not enough proofthat his influence amounted to effective commandand control of the rebels.Human Rights Watch spokeswomanGeraldine Mattioli-Zeitner saidshe was pleased with the ruling.GERALDINE MATTIOLI-ZEITNER: "We think this is an historic moment.It's the first time a former head of stateis prosecuted and judged for crimes against humanityand war crimes committed while he was in office."The former Liberian leaderhas denied the charges and can appeal the judgment.Sentencing is set for May thirtieth.He faces a possible life sentence.He is expected to serve any prison term in Britain.Charles Taylor was arrested in two thousand six-- three years after he was charged and resigned as president.The trial opened in two thousand seven.It was moved from Freetown, in Sierra Leone,to the Netherlands to avoid unrest.The court heard evidence from ninety-four witnessesfor the prosecution and twenty-one witnessesfor the defense, including Taylor himself.The case is expected to be the last major trialfor the special court.It was established to try the most serious cases of war crimesduring the conflict in Sierra Leone.People in Sierra Leone welcomed the conviction of Charles Taylor.There were mixed emotions in his native Liberia,where he still has some support.Tamba Cole was among Liberians who welcomed the guilty verdict.He said Taylor has now set an exampleto other leaders in Africa and around the world.Such crimes will no longer be acceptedby the international community, he said.Charles Taylor is the first head of state to be found guiltyby an international court in almost seventy years.The last time was in ninety forty-six,in the trials in Nuremberg, Germany,for war crimes during World War Two.Karl Doenitz -- who briefly led Nazi Germanyafter Adolf Hitler killed himself-- was found guilty of crimes against peace and war crimes.He spent ten years in prison.And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.