The trial of 19 Liberians indicted to face multiple charges of cross-border attack into Cote d'Ivoire Monday took a dramatic turn when indicted Prince Barclay said he and others standing trial participated in the post-election war in Cote d'Ivoire and were paid CFA 3 million by former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo.

Minutes before their case formally began state lawyers requested the court to drop charges against defendant Prince Barclay in order to serve as state witness.

The presiding Judge at Criminal Court 'D' granted the state prosecutors' application saying it was the right of state lawyers to drop charges against anyone, explaining that it was part of the practice of law.

The 19 accused men were indicted in 2011 and 2012 on multiple offenses ranging from mercenarism, murder, rape, arson and theft of property.

Witness Prince Barclay who became government's first witness on the direct examination, linked most of the defendants to the Ivorian war, especially those that were arrested in 2011.

Barclay, who told the court that he was recruited in 2011, said they were doing mining for West Africa Mining Company in Liberia when one Bob Marley decide to mobilize them. He said they were in a town called Guiglo where they were promised CFA 30 million for the operation.

He further said the Ivorian military under command of former president Laurent Gbagbo at the time left them in a town called Guiglo while one Bob Marley had them leave for Zarglo. He claimed that the first CFA 13 million was hidden from us as they were at the riverbank in Ivory Coast.

He revealed that some of the defendants did not follow because Bob Marley failed to release the first CFA 13 million which discouraged him and some others to remain in Grand Gedeh to do their normal businesses where we were arrested in 2011.

Concerning the killing of seven UN peacekeepers in Ivory Coast, Barclay said he was not on the scene, but was told by defendant Morris Cole that they committed the act.

"It was UZE Barway and Rambo who led the attack that resulted in killing the UN peacekeepers," Barclay narrated.

During cross-examinations, witness Barclay confirmed that they were arrested on May 8, 2011 by ERU police officers who took statements from us, but I cannot remember all.

Asked whether he was recruited, he admitted that he and others were recruited in Ivory Coast. He claimed that he got to know some of the defendants at the West Africa Mining Company in Liberia where they all worked. "It was one Isaac Cheapo who carried me to Ivory Coast. I met Bob Marley at the riverbank in Ivory Coast.

"We left all the arms at the river bank in Ivory Coast. I was a founding member of the whole thing. There were series of crossing points that we used and there were several other groups.

"Morris Cole, Isaac Taryon, Prince Toteh, among others,h were the first group to bring guns into Liberia," witness Barclay claimed.

The 19 accused Liberian who were arrested separately were indicted on two separate indictments in 2011 and 2012 with the same multiple charges.

The 6-page indictment said that since the post elections violence broke out in December of 2010 in Ivory Coast that led to the arrest of former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, the defendants joined some Ivorians to cause trouble in that country.

Those accused of participating in the war are Nyezee Barway, Morris K. Cole alias Edward Cole, Isaac Taryon, Stephen Gloto, Niemlin Tere Antione, Prince Touty, James Lee Cooper, Emmanuel Saymah, Ophoree Diah, Alfred Bobby James, Junior Nioule, Edward O. Nioule, Badison Tous. George Moore and Komande Mohegar.

According to the indictment, defendant Emmanuel Saymah who served as trainer for those recruited received money, arms and ammunition from co-defendant George Moore after he led 20 men into Ivory Coast.

The indictment claimed the dissidents attacked Pekan Military Barracks on August 13, 2012 in lower Toluleple followed by several attacks on other towns and villages where they killed many Ivorian citizens, raped women and girls as well as burnt houses and stole money and other properties.

The indictment also accused Ophoree Diah of receiving the U$100,000 from an Ivorian only identified Jackson Didier to buy arms and ammunition in Singapore and Dubai for mercenary activities in Ivory Coast.

Following their series of attacks in Ivory Coast, the defendants retreated to Liberia and the security forces here were alerted, leading to their arrest in Grand Gedeh.

Prior to the reading of the indictment, defense lawyers' request to the court to halt the proceedings was denied by Criminal Court "D" presiding Yussif Kaba on grounds that their request lacked merits in keeping with law.