The UN-backed War Crimes Court for Sierra Leone has implicated former Liberian president Charles Taylor in January's coup attempt against the government of Guinea.

According to reports reaching Tuesday, the court's chief prosecutor, David Crane, said he had evidence that Taylor, who is now living in Nigeria, had ordered the assassination of Guinea President Lansana Conte.

The order is in "revenge for Conte's support of the LURD (Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy) rebel faction in Liberia," Crane said in a statement, citing "multiple sources."

"After the failed attempt to kill Conte on January 19, these same sources have reported that the effort will soon be repeated," Crane noted.

The prosecutor accused Taylor of remaining in contact with his political network in Liberia on a day-to-day basis and mobilizing them to keep west Africa in turmoil.

"Taylor will remain a menace to west Africa until he is turned over for trial to the special court for Sierra Leone," he said.

Taylor was forced to step down and flee his country in August 2003 as rebels laid siege to the Liberian capital, Monrovia. He was indicted by the UN-backed court on 17 counts of crimes against humanity for his role in supporting the Sierra Leonean civil war.

Despite efforts by Crane and other international powers to dislodge Taylor, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has repeatedly said he would not succumb to pressure to hand him over for trial.

Source: Xinhua