by James Tweedie
Ousted Cote D’Ivoire president Laurent Gbagbo was the the victim of a French-backed coup, his defence told the International Criminal Court (ICC) yesterday.
Lawyer Emmanuel Altit told the court at The Hague in the Netherlands that Mr Gbagbo was working to restore democracy in his country when he was overthrown by supporters of current President Alassane Ouattara backed by French commandoes and mercenaries.
On Thursday Mr Gbagbo and his co-defendant Charles Ble Goude pleaded not guilty to four charges — including murder and rape allegedly committed by his supporters during violence that left 3,000 people dead after the disputed 2010 presidential election.
Prosecutors last week accused Gbagbo of unleashing violence to cling to office after losing a run-off to Mr Ouattara.
Mr Altit said that version of events was a "political narrative ... intended to justify the use of force against President Gbagbo."
Mr Gbagbo was overthrown by forces loyal to Rally of the Republicans candidate — and former International Monetary Fund deputy managing director — Mr Ouattara after months of street violence following the election.
On December 2 2010 Ivorian Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Chairman Youssouf Bakayoko announced Mr Ouattara’s victory — at his campaign headquarters with no other members of the IEC present.
Mr Bakayoko claimed that he went to that hotel to announce the results because "he felt it would not be safe for him to speak from the IEC headquarters".
But the Constitutional Council — the legitimate authority — declared Mr Gbagbo the winner after annulling votes from seven northern regions, claiming polling was marred by intimidation by Mr Outtara’s forces.
The UN, the US and European nations — most importantly former colonial occupier France — backed Mr Ouattara.
Attempts by former South African president Thabo Mbeki to mediate between the two sides failed.
On April 10 2011 Mr Ouattara’s militias attacked Mr Gbagbo’s residence in Abidjan. UN and French helicopters fired on heavy weapons inside the compound, ostensibly to prevent them from being used on those surrounding it.
The next day French commandoes stormed the building and seized Mr Gbagbo, handing him over to his enemies.
The African Union Summit in Addis Ababa over the weekend discussed Africa’s growing concerns with the ICC, which has been accused of only trying African leaders.
South African President Jacob Zuma indicated that his country would soon withdraw from the Rome Statute the basis of the court's athourity.
“Our strongly held view is that it is now impossible, under the circumstances, for South Africa to continue its participation in the Rome Statute," he said.
"South Africa is seriously reviewing its participation in the Rome Statute and will announce its decision in due course."