The Hague, 4 May- (ANA)-War crimes judges have rejected a request to acquit Liberia's former President Charles Taylor on charges of crimes against humanity.
Mr Taylor's defence team argued that there was not enough evidence for the trial to proceed.
The decision by the Special Court for Sierra Leone at The Hague means that Mr Taylor, who has pleaded not guilty, must now present his defence.
Tens of thousands of people died in Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war.
"The prosecution has produced evidence capable of supporting a conviction of the accused, " the presiding judge told the court as he dismissed the defence's request.
It is not unusual for a defence team to lodge a request for dismissal at this stage in an international tribunal's proceedings, analysts say.
The judge also stressed that the decision does not mean that the tribunal will convict Mr Taylor.
The trial is scheduled to continue on 29 June. (ANA)
Amnesty/Report