{"id":185261,"date":"2016-01-28T14:48:28","date_gmt":"2016-01-28T14:48:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=185261"},"modified":"2016-01-28T14:48:28","modified_gmt":"2016-01-28T14:48:28","slug":"laurent-gbagbo-ivory-coast-ex-leader-denies-war-crimes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2016\/01\/laurent-gbagbo-ivory-coast-ex-leader-denies-war-crimes\/","title":{"rendered":"Laurent Gbagbo: Ivory Coast ex-leader denies war crimes"},"content":{"rendered":"
Ivory Coast’s ex-President Laurent Gbagbo has denied charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, as his landmark trial began at the International Criminal Court (ICC).<\/p>\n
The charges relate to the country’s civil conflict that erupted after Mr Gbagbo lost elections in 2010.<\/p>\n
He is the first ex-head of state to stand trial at the ICC in The Hague.<\/p>\n
Mr Gbagbo and ex-militia leader Charles Ble Goude, 44, both deny murder, rape, attempted murder and persecution.<\/p>\n
The trial could last three or four years.<\/p>\n
As it began, Mr Gbagbo, 70, appeared relaxed, smiling and shaking hands with his defence team.<\/p>\n
The BBC’s Anna Holligan, at the trial, said he steadied himself on his desk as he replied “not guilty” as the charges were read.<\/p>\n
A key test, by Anna Holligan, BBC News, The Hague<\/strong><\/p>\n This may prove to be the most important trial in the ICC’s history. The international court was established to end impunity and bring the most powerful leaders to justice. The first trial of a former head of state is testament to the prosecutor’s reach. And yet, despite casualties on both sides, not one of President Alassane Ouattara’s supporters has been charged, leading to accusations of victor’s justice.<\/p>\n During the pre-trial press briefing the victims’ representative was asked how she could represent the victims when only half of those who had suffered would have their voices heard.<\/p>\n This high-profile trial will test the ability of the ICC to obtain reliable evidence from a country in which the government has a political interest in securing a guilty verdict.<\/p>\n Can the suspects expect a fair trial if much of the evidence comes from their enemy?<\/p>\n Mr Gbagbo sparked a crisis in Ivory Coast after he refused to step down following his loss to Alassane Ouattara in the 2010 presidential vote.<\/p>\n There were bloody clashes between rival forces over five months in 2010 and 2011.<\/p>\n Some 3,000 people were killed, with Mr Gbagbo basing himself in the presidential palace.<\/p>\n