I Coast frees 9 Gbagbo allies on bail
2012-12-21 10:49
Abidjan - Ivory Coast's judiciary agreed on Thursday to
release on bail nine aides of ousted former president Laurent Gbagbo who had
been detained since 2011 in the aftermath of a deadly post-poll crisis.
In a statement read out on public television RTI, the
justice ministry said it had responded positively to bail requests for former
prime minister Gilbert Ake, his former economy minister Desire Dallo and seven
others.
The decision to release members of Gbagbo's camp before the
New Year reveal an attempt by President Alassane Ouattara to ease political
tensions in the troubled west African nation.
A deadly crisis erupted in late 2010 when Gbagbo, who had
been in power 10 years, refused to concede electoral defeat to Ouattara, his
arch-rival.
Gbagbo was eventually captured by Ouattara loyalists backed
by French and UN forces and several members of his regime were detained.
The former president was bundled to The Hague a few months
later to face trial at the International Criminal Court, which is to confirm
charges of crimes against humanity in February.
Gbagbo's camp has accused Ouattara of imposing victor's
justice while the government has charged that groups loyal to the ousted
president had been carrying out attacks and continued to destabilise the
country.
