Liberia Applies to ICJ on Sierra Leone Arrest Warrant against Liberian President Taylor As Nigeria Gives Him Asylum and Rejects Calls to Extradite

On August 4, 2003, Liberia filed an application with the International Court of Justice against Sierra Leone in response to an arrest warrant issued against Liberian President Charles Ghankay Taylor. Liberia requests that the Court dismiss the warrant on grounds that a foreign Head of State is immune. But in an August 11 ceremony, Mr. Taylor resigned the presidency and flew to Calabar, Nigeria, where he accepted an offer of asylum.