ICC / GBAGBO DEFENCE

The Defence of former Ivorian leader Laurent Gbagbo at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague accused the French government of backing President Alassane Ouattara in seizing power by force after the 2010 election. ICC

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:30
• Production Date: 1 February 2016
• Asset Language: French
• Personal Subject: ALASSANE OUATTARA
• Corporate Name: INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT - ICC
• Geographic Subject: COTE D'IVOIRE
• MAMS Id: 1556287
• Parent Id: 1556287
• Alternate Title: unifeed160201g

Description

STORY: ICC / GBAGBO DEFENCE
TRT: 01:30
SOURCE: ICC
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: 01 FEBRUARY 2016, THE HAGUE / FILE

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, courtroom
2. Med shot, participants
3. Laurent Gbagbo, former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Emmanuel Altit, Defence Counsel for Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo:
“How can we understand the events the prosecution is asking us to judge if the main protagonists are missing? How can we understand the battle of Abidjan without an understanding of the essential role played by the Armed Forces, the pro-Ouattara mercenary forces and the French Army? How can you issue a verdict on the responsibility of the protagonists without considering this information?”
5. Wide shot, Altit addressing the Court
6 Emmanuel Altit, Defence Counsel for Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo:
“The premeditation is clear. Alassane Ouattara and his enablers intended to take power by force and the battle of Abidjan represents the application of that strategy.”
7. Med shot, ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda
8. Wide shot, Altit addressing the Court

Storyline

The Defence of former Ivorian leader Laurent Gbagbo at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague today (1 Feb) accused the French government of backing President Alassane Ouattara in seizing power by force after the 2010 election.

Gbagbo and militia leader Charles Ble Goude pled not guilty last week to charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Gbagbo’s defence counsel, Emmanuel Altit, asked the Court “how can we understand the events the prosecution is asking us to judge if the main protagonists are missing? How can we understand the battle of Abidjan without an understanding of the essential role played by the Armed Forces, the pro-Ouattara mercenary forces and the French Army? How can you issue a verdict on the responsibility of the protagonists without considering this information?”

Altit said “the premeditation is clear. Alassane Ouattara and his enablers intended to take power by force and the battle of Abidjan represents the application of that strategy.”

The charges stem from the violence that ensued after Gbagbo lost in the 2010 elections but refused to step down.

Close to 3,000 people died after violence erupted between rival militias in 2010 and 2011 while Gbagbo remained in the presidential palace.