Gbagbo moved to secret location

2011-04-13 15:24

Abidjan - Arrested former Ivorian leader Laurent Gbagbo has been moved from a hotel in the main city Abidjan to an undisclosed location in Ivory Coast, his rival President Alassane Ouattara said on Wednesday.

"As I speak to you, Mr Laurent Gbagbo is no longer at the Golf Hotel, he is in Ivory Coast, well secured," Ouattara said. "Mr Laurent Gbagbo is a former head of state, he must be treated with consideration."

Ouattara said the justice minister was preparing for possible prosecution of Gbagbo but gave no details.

He said Gbagbo will be kept in a villa and that his rights as a former head of state will be respected.

Ouattara said he will hold his own formal swearing-in ceremony at a later date.

Gbagbo refused to cede power after losing a November election, leading to a four-month standoff that plunged the West African nation into chaos and killed untold numbers of people.

- AP