Former Ivory Coast president charged by international criminal court for attacks on civilians in post-election chaos last year

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

The international criminal court has charged former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo with murder, rape, persecution and inhuman acts, crimes allegedly committed as his backers fought to keep him in power last year.

Gbagbo is the first former head of state taken into custody by the court since it was established in 2002.

"Mr Gbagbo is brought to account for his individual responsibility in the attacks against civilians committed by forces acting on his behalf," the prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, said in a statement. "He is presumed innocent until proven guilty and will be given full rights and the opportunity to defend himself."

Moreno-Ocampo stressed that both sides of the political divide in Ivory Coast committed crimes in the post-election chaos and that his investigation was continuing.

"We will collect evidence impartially and independently, and bring further cases before the judges, irrespective of political affiliation," he said. "Leaders must understand that violence is no longer an option to retain or gain power. The time of impunity for these crimes is over."

A convoy of cars took Gbagbo to the court's detention unit close to the North Sea following an overnight flight that arrived in the Netherlands shortly before 4am (0300 GMT) on Wednesday.