Former Ivory Coast President, Laurent Gbagbo Faces Murder And Rape Charges At ICC

Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo is facing four charges of crimes against humanity, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has said.

He is accused of being an "indirect co-perpetrator" of murder, rape, persecution and other inhuman acts.

Mr Gbagbo, 66, was placed in detention in The Hague early on Wednesday after being flown from Ivory Coast.

He is the first former head of state to be detained to face trial in The Hague by the ICC since its founding in 2002.

Human rights groups have welcomed his arrest, but also cautioned against "victor's justice".

There are fears a perception of this could stoke further tensions in Ivory Coast, says the BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague.

There is a palpable sense of shock on the streets of Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan, following the transfer of ousted President Laurent Gbagbo to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity.

The ICC has been investigating four months of conflict in Ivory Coast, which began when Mr Gbagbo refused to give up power to Alassane Ouattara in the presidential election of December 2010.

True, President Alassane Ouattara had been firm since he took power in April that Mr Gbagbo would face justice at The Hague, and those close to him worked hard to make sure the transfer happened before the 11 December legislative elections.

But there was always a hope among Gbagbo supporters that things would eventually be settled through some sort of deal that would set judicial questions aside in a bid for reconciliation.