International Criminal Court takes Gbagbo into custody - The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed taking custody of former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, following the arrest warrant issued for him by the court's pre-trial chamber. In a statement obtained by PANA here, the court said Gbagbo, 66, arrived at the ICC detention centre in the Netherlands Wednesday, a day after he was surrendered to the ICC by the Ivorian authorities, following a warrant of arrest issued under seal by the judges of the Pre-Trial Chamber III on 23 November.

It said the suspect’s initial appearance hearing before the Pre-Trial Chamber III, composed of Judges Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi (presiding judge), Elizabeth Odio Benito and Adrian Fulford, would be held promptly.

Mr Gbagbo allegedly bears individual criminal responsibility, as indirect co-perpetrator, for four counts of crimes against humanity, namely murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence, persecution and other inhuman acts, allegedly committed in the territory of Côte d’Ivoire between 16 December 2010 and 12 April 2011.

ICC said the date and time of the initial appearance hearing would be announced on its Twitter account, followed by a press release.

The warrant of arrest for Gbagbo is the first warrant issued in the situation in Côte d’Ivoire, which is not party to the Rome Statute but had accepted the jurisdiction of the ICC.

Gbagbo's refusal to accept his defeat by then challenger Alassane Ouattara sparked a long drawn crisis that left 3,000 dead and ended only after Gbagbo's arrest.

Pana 30/11/2011