Former Ivory Coast President, Laurent Gbagbo, became the first ex-head of state to appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday, as Chief ICC Prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, vowed that justice would not stop there and all those responsible for atrocities would be held to account.
In a statement, Moreno-Ocampo said,
"In the past, if you were a head of state you could commit massive atrocities and nothing would happen."
"This era is gone."
“Ivorian victims will see justice for massive crimes,”
"We have evidence that the violence did not happen by chance: widespread and systematic attacks against civilians perceived as supporting the other candidate were the result of a deliberate policy,”
He added that investigations into the violence will continue and Gbagbo was "only the first" to face justice.
Meanwhile, Gbagbo has claimed he was "deceived" into being transferred to The Hague.
Gbagbo told the court he had been told he was going to meet a judge in the north-eastern town of Korhogo when an arrest warrant was produced.
"My lawyers were not prepared for that," he said, adding that the he was only made aware of his journey to The Hague upon arrival at the airport.
Gbagbo faces four charges of crimes against humanity, including murder and rape, during violence that followed Ivory Coast's disputed presidential elections last year during 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011.
See previous articles:
ICC takes ex-head of state, Gbagbo, into custody (29 Nov 2011)
ICC allows Ivory Coast investigation (03 Oct 2011)
Ivory Coast sets up 'war crimes' inquiry (24 Jul 2011)
Ivory Coast: the problem is not elections, but xenophobia (16 Apr 2011)
