Charles Taylor's son held in U.S.

MIAMI --The son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor was ordered held without bail Wednesday on U.S. passport fraud charges.

Charles McArthur Emmanuel, 29, also known as Charles "Chuckie" Taylor Jr., was arrested last week after arriving at Miami International Airport from Trinidad. U.S. immigration officials said Emmanuel had lied about the identity of his father on his application for the passport.

Emmanuel's court-appointed attorney, Miguel Caridad, said at a brief hearing Wednesday that he and prosecutors had agreed that Emmanuel should remain in custody. U.S. Magistrate Judge John O'Sullivan accepted the recommendation.

Emmanuel is a U.S. citizen who was born in Boston in 1977. His mother, Beatrice Y. Emmanuel, was a former girlfriend of Taylor's, according to court documents.

Taylor, president of Liberia from 1997 to 2003, faces 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in a United Nations-backed special court for his alleged role in a civil war in neighboring Sierra Leone. He is accused of backing rebels in exchange for a share of Sierra Leone's diamond wealth, which he used to fund his ambitions in Liberia.

Emmanuel was head of Liberia's Anti-Terrorist Unit during his father's term, with responsibilities including training soldiers and providing security for Taylor.