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| Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo appears at ICC in Hague | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Former President of Ivory Coast Laurent Gbagbo is making his first appearance before the International Criminal Court at The Hague. | |
| He faces four charges of crimes against humanity, including murder and rape, in the wake of Ivory Coast's disputed presidential elections a year ago. | He faces four charges of crimes against humanity, including murder and rape, in the wake of Ivory Coast's disputed presidential elections a year ago. |
| Some 3,000 were killed in violence that followed Mr Gbagbo's refusal to accept defeat in the November 2010 polls. | Some 3,000 were killed in violence that followed Mr Gbagbo's refusal to accept defeat in the November 2010 polls. |
| Mr Gbagbo, 66, is the first former head of state to be brought before the ICC. | |
| He is expected to hear the charges against him in a brief first appearance in the court but he will not be asked to plead. | |
| The former president has previously denied responsibility for the violence, as well as accusations that the elections were rigged. | |
| His transfer from Ivory Coast - where he had been under house arrest since April - to The Hague last week sparked anger from his supporters who described it as a "political kidnapping". | His transfer from Ivory Coast - where he had been under house arrest since April - to The Hague last week sparked anger from his supporters who described it as a "political kidnapping". |
| His Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) has pulled out of the 11 December parliamentary elections in protest. | His Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) has pulled out of the 11 December parliamentary elections in protest. |
| 'More to come' | 'More to come' |
| Mr Gbagbo's arrest follows an ICC investigation into the four months of conflict that began in Ivory Coast when he refused to hand power to his long-time rival Alassane Ouattara, who was declared winner of the election. | Mr Gbagbo's arrest follows an ICC investigation into the four months of conflict that began in Ivory Coast when he refused to hand power to his long-time rival Alassane Ouattara, who was declared winner of the election. |
| The charges relate to events between 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011, the ICC said. | The charges relate to events between 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011, the ICC said. |
| Mr Gbagbo is accused of being an "indirect co-perpetrator" in attacks that were "widespread and systematic... committed over an extended time period, over large geographic areas, and following a similar general pattern". | Mr Gbagbo is accused of being an "indirect co-perpetrator" in attacks that were "widespread and systematic... committed over an extended time period, over large geographic areas, and following a similar general pattern". |
| Louis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor at the ICC, says there is evidence of widespread and systematic attacks against civilians. | Louis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor at the ICC, says there is evidence of widespread and systematic attacks against civilians. |
| But troops loyal to Mr Ouattara are also suspected of carrying out abuses, and human rights groups have urged an investigation into crimes allegedly committed by other parties. | But troops loyal to Mr Ouattara are also suspected of carrying out abuses, and human rights groups have urged an investigation into crimes allegedly committed by other parties. |
| Mr Moreno-Ocampo said Mr Gbagbo is only the first to be brought to account and "there is more to come". | Mr Moreno-Ocampo said Mr Gbagbo is only the first to be brought to account and "there is more to come". |
| The ICC was set up in 2002 to prosecute and bring to justice those responsible for the worst crimes - genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes - committed anywhere in the world. | The ICC was set up in 2002 to prosecute and bring to justice those responsible for the worst crimes - genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes - committed anywhere in the world. |
| It is currently hearing six other cases, all relating to crimes committed in Africa, including that of Jean-Pierre Bemba, former vice-resident of DR Congo, whose trial began in November 2010. | |
| It has issued an arrest warrant for Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who is accused of genocide and crimes against humanity. | It has issued an arrest warrant for Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who is accused of genocide and crimes against humanity. |
| The African Union has accused the ICC of concentrating on alleged atrocities committed in Africa and ignoring crimes elsewhere in the world - charges Mr Moreno-Ocampo has denied. | The African Union has accused the ICC of concentrating on alleged atrocities committed in Africa and ignoring crimes elsewhere in the world - charges Mr Moreno-Ocampo has denied. |
| Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is currently on trial in The Hague by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, set up jointly by the UN and Sierra Leonean government | Former Liberian President Charles Taylor is currently on trial in The Hague by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, set up jointly by the UN and Sierra Leonean government |
| Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic was on trial by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) - an ad hoc UN court - at the time of his death in 2006. | Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic was on trial by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) - an ad hoc UN court - at the time of his death in 2006. |