Ivory Coast: Gbagbo's trial begins on Monday

Laurent Gbagbo is charged with crimes against humanity.

Ivory Coast: Gbagbo's trial begins on Monday

Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo will appear before the International Criminal Court on Monday, the first former head of state to be tried by the ICC since its inception in 2002.

Sixty six year old Gbagbo, was flown from Ivory Coast to the Netherlands on Wednesday last week, and transferred to a detention centre in The Hague.

The ICC has charged Gbagbo with crimes against humanity, including murder and rape.

About 3,000 people were killed and more than a million displaced in a four-month civil war in Ivory Coast after Gbagbo refused to cede power to Alassane Ouattara in an election last year.

At his first appearance before the court on Monday the judges will verify his identity and ensure he was properly informed of the charges against him.

Reuters/Ugo