Former Ivory Coast first lady Simone Gbagbo has gone on trial over alleged involvement in 2011 post election violence.
The wife of former President Laurent Gbagbo has been charged along with 82 supporters of her husband,who is awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court on a four count charge of crimes against humanity.
Although Mr. Gbagbo, 69,insists he is innocent,About 3,000 life's where lost in the violence, after the ex-president refused to accept defeat in a run-off vote. He is the first former head of state to have appeared at the ICC.
Mrs. Gbagbo, who had been held under house arrest for three years, has been charged with “attempting to undermine the security of the state”.
Former prime minister Gilbert Ake N’Gbo and Ivorian Popular Front party head Affi N’Guessan are also being tried along with the former first lady.
Mrs. Gbagbo,will be tried in a domestic court despite the ICC requesting for permission for her trial at the international court but Ivory Coast has refused repeated requests to hand her over.
She was arrested in 2011 after troops stormed a bunker in which she and her husband had taken refuge, following a military assault on their residence in the main city, Abidjan.
Violence broke out in Ivory Coast in 2010 when Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power to his rival Alassane Ouattara, who was declared the winner of a presidential poll.
The ex-president was ousted in 2011 with the help of French and UN forces backing President Ouattara.
Proceedings at Mrs. Gbagbo’s trial on Friday were expected to be limited to jury selection, with hearings beginning properly next month.
Fomer Ivory Coast First Lady Simone Gbagbo goes on trial.
Former Ivory Coast first lady Simone Gbagbo has gone on trial over alleged involvement in 2011 post election violence.
The wife of former President Laurent Gbagbo has been charged along with 82 supporters of her husband,who is awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court on a four count charge of crimes against humanity.
Although Mr. Gbagbo, 69,insists he is innocent,About 3,000 life's where lost in the violence, after the ex-president refused to accept defeat in a run-off vote. He is the first former head of state to have appeared at the ICC.
Mrs. Gbagbo, who had been held under house arrest for three years, has been charged with “attempting to undermine the security of the state”.
Former prime minister Gilbert Ake N’Gbo and Ivorian Popular Front party head Affi N’Guessan are also being tried along with the former first lady.
Mrs. Gbagbo,will be tried in a domestic court despite the ICC requesting for permission for her trial at the international court but Ivory Coast has refused repeated requests to hand her over.
She was arrested in 2011 after troops stormed a bunker in which she and her husband had taken refuge, following a military assault on their residence in the main city, Abidjan.
Violence broke out in Ivory Coast in 2010 when Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power to his rival Alassane Ouattara, who was declared the winner of a presidential poll.
The ex-president was ousted in 2011 with the help of French and UN forces backing President Ouattara.
Proceedings at Mrs. Gbagbo’s trial on Friday were expected to be limited to jury selection, with hearings beginning properly next month.
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