Laurent Gbagbo appeared before ICC for crimes against humanity

The former Ivorian leader Mr Gbagbo appeared in good health as presiding judge Silvia Fernandex de Gurmendi opened the confirmation of charges hearing. Judges will decide whether there is enough evidence to try him for masterminding a bloody election standoff two years ago.

According to the telegraph.co.uk article published on the 19th Ferbruary this year, Mr Gbagbo, 67, faces four counts of crimes against humanity including murder and rape for fomenting a wave of violence which swept the west African nation after he refused to concede defeat in November 2010 presidential polls.

Tensions are still high in the West African nation, around 200 Gbagbo loyalists staged a protest in The Hague on Tuesday morning, calling for their leader to be freed.

"We're here because today president Gbagbo is to appear before the ICC even though he's a democratically elected president and the charges against him should be for Alassane Ouattara," said Hubert Seka, 43, who travelled from Italy.

On Saturday, riot police in Ivory Coast fired tear gas to disperse another pro-Gbagbo demonstration outside the commercial capital Abidjan.

In The Hague, prosecutors and the defence are to spend just over a week arguing their cases before a three-judge bench, who will then decide if there are "substantial grounds to believe that Gbagbo committed the crimes" and should be charged.

The prosecution says Mr Gbagbo spearheaded a plan to "stay in power by all means... through carefully planned, sustained and deadly attacks" against Ouattara supporters.

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk