Monday 10 June 2013

Gbagbo’s Trial: Ouattara Says ICC Is Doing Its Job Freely



Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara has described the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) call for more evidence against former president Laurent Gbagbo as an exercise of its rightful duties.
A statement from the Ivorian presidency quoted Ouattara as saying this on Sunday in Pointe-Noire, Congo, at the end of his official visit.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president arrived in Congo on June 7 for a three-day official visit to the country.
NAN further reports that the ICC had requested the prosecution to produce more evidence against Gbagbo for it to decide whether to try him for crimes against humanity.
``The judges of the ICC have made ​​a number of recommendations addressed to the prosecutor; it is up to the prosecutor to provide additional documents as requested.
 `` What the ICC has done is its job as an institution of justice, it is in exercise of its freedom on the matter before it,‘’ he said.
NAN reports that Gbagbo was arrested on April 11, 2011, following the crisis that erupted after the presidential election between him and president Ouattara.
Reacting to the ICC’s decision, Gbagbo’s party, the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), called for his release due to lack of verifiable evidence.
The party said in a statement that Gbagbo’s release would strengthen national reconciliation in the country.
NAN also reports that the Ivorian post-election crisis is officially reported to have led to the death of about 3,000 persons.

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