AFP Copyright: AFP Mr Gbagbo is accused of fuelling conflict in Ivory Coast Image caption: Mr Gbagbo is accused of fuelling conflict in Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast's former President Laurent Gbagbo, 70, is "confidently" approaching his crime against humanity trial at the International Criminal Court, his lawyer has said, AFP news agency reports.

Mr Gbagbo "wants the truth, the entire truth, the whole truth to be told, so that the people of the Ivory Coast can take ownership of their own history", Emmanuel Altit is quoted as saying.

Mr Gbagbo, who is due in court tomorrow, will be the first former head of state to be tried at the ICC.

He faces four charges of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, and persecution arising out of the political upheavals which wracked the West African nation in 2010-2011.

The former president is expected to plead not guilty to the charges.

Chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said Mr Gbagbo would be tried fairly and impartially.

"Our case is based on the law... and on the strength of the evidence our investigators have gathered," she said.

Watch: Why is Gbagbo standing trial?