Gbagbo, now 67 years old, was transferred to the court in The Hague in November 2011. He is the first former president to go before the ICC.
He faces four counts of crimes against humanity including persecution, rape, murder and other sexual violence. The crimes stem from the election violence that occurred after he lost the Ivory Coast's presidential poll in November 2010.
Gbagbo's supporters demonstrated outside the International Criminal Court on Tuesday where his lawyers argued anew for his release from detention. Dressed in orange and wrapped in their country's orange, white, and green flag, approximately 600 supporters played drums and sang while chanting: “Give back our president!” and “ICC, president thief!”
Inside the fortress-like building courtroom in a southern Hague suburb, Gbagbo's lawyer Emmanuel Altit argued that his client was not a flight risk. However, last Friday the court rejected an appeal by Gbagbo’s lawyers against a decision in July to continue keeping the former president locked up.
On Tuesday, Gbagbo's lawyers presented a new argument for his release ahead of a November review on whether or not to continue detaining him.
“Because of his ill health he cannot abscond,” Altit told judges. “Where will he flee to and how? Let's think about this.”
The July ruling stated that Gbagbo posed a flight risk due to the gravity of the charges against him and his possible lengthy prison sentence.
In addition, Gbagbo “appeared to have the political motivations as well as the necessary political contacts and funds to abscond,” the ruling noted, in view of reports of reorganization of his West African supporters. Prosecutors note that Gbagbo continues to maintain a network of supporters for his release and return to power.
Gbagbo refused to step down after losing the election to now president and long-time rival Alassane Ouattara, which sparked a country crisis. During the ensuing five months, approximately 3,000 people died of unrest before Gbagbo was arrested in April 2011 by forces loyal to Ouattara, and support from the UN and French military.
Pending a medical evaluation of Gbagbo, a confirmation of charges hearing has been postponed.
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