This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-39599099
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Ivory Coast conflict: Gbagbo ally jailed over Novotel hotel murders | Ivory Coast conflict: Gbagbo ally jailed over Novotel hotel murders |
(35 minutes later) | |
The head of the presidential guard under Ivory Coast's ex-leader Laurent Gbagbo has been sentenced to 18 years in prison over killings during the country's civil conflict in 2011. | The head of the presidential guard under Ivory Coast's ex-leader Laurent Gbagbo has been sentenced to 18 years in prison over killings during the country's civil conflict in 2011. |
Gen Bruno Dogbo Ble was convicted at the murder trial for four foreign businessmen, who were abducted from a top hotel in the main city of Abidjan. | Gen Bruno Dogbo Ble was convicted at the murder trial for four foreign businessmen, who were abducted from a top hotel in the main city of Abidjan. |
Only one body was ever found, dumped in a lagoon in the city. | Only one body was ever found, dumped in a lagoon in the city. |
Some 3,000 people died in the conflict that followed elections in 2010. | Some 3,000 people died in the conflict that followed elections in 2010. |
The BBC's Tamasin Ford in Abidjan says there are still many unanswered questions about the case which was long shrouded in doubt and mystery. | |
A unit of the elite presidential guard was found to have stormed the Novotel Hotel in Abidjan's financial district on 4 April, 2011, as fighting raged for control of the commercial capital. | A unit of the elite presidential guard was found to have stormed the Novotel Hotel in Abidjan's financial district on 4 April, 2011, as fighting raged for control of the commercial capital. |
They abducted the French hotel manager along with the French head of Sifca, the country's biggest agro-industrial group, his Beninoise assistant and a Malaysian colleague. | They abducted the French hotel manager along with the French head of Sifca, the country's biggest agro-industrial group, his Beninoise assistant and a Malaysian colleague. |
The prosecution said that the victims were taken to the presidential palace, where they were tortured and killed. | The prosecution said that the victims were taken to the presidential palace, where they were tortured and killed. |
After a 10-month trial in Abidjan, five others were also jailed for their role in the killing, including the country's former police chief. | |
But it remains unclear why they were killed and on whose orders. | But it remains unclear why they were killed and on whose orders. |
Violence broke out when then President Gbagbo, now on trial at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, refused to accept defeat to President Alassane Ouattara. | Violence broke out when then President Gbagbo, now on trial at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, refused to accept defeat to President Alassane Ouattara. |
President Ouattara has been criticised for only prosecuting his opponents following the country's civil conflict, despite both sides being accused of atrocities. | President Ouattara has been criticised for only prosecuting his opponents following the country's civil conflict, despite both sides being accused of atrocities. |
Previous version
1
Next version