Ivory Coast ex-president Gbagbo pleads not guilty to war crimes

Former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo has pleaded not guilty to charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court.

Gbagbo’s trial at The Hague started on Thursday.

The former leader was arrested in 2011 after refusing to cede power to Alassane Ouattara, who won presidential elections in 2010.

Ouattara sought the help of France to put him into power and arrest Gbagbo, who is blamed for inciting violence that killed more than 3,000 people during unrest after the election.