Ivorian leader Gbagbo in ICC custody

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo arrived Wednesday at the International Criminal Court to face crimes against humanity charges, the court said.

Gbagbo was handed to ICC authorities Tuesday by Ivorian officials answering an arrest warrant issued by the court last week.

The court said Gbagbo allegedly bears responsibility as an indirect co-perpetrator for four counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and "other inhuman acts" following last year's election.

Gbagbo refused to step down after the international community recognized Alassane Ouattara as the winner of a November 2010 election. Gbagbo is charged with crimes allegedly committed from last December to April, when he was arrested in Abidjan with the help of French peacekeepers.

The ICC estimates at least 3,000 people were killed in the unrest that followed an election meant to unite a country divided by civil war in 2003. Ivory Coast isn't a party to the Rome Statute that created the court but was called on to investigate the atrocities by the Ouattara administration.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor at the ICC, said the Ivorian victims would see justice for the "massive" crimes committed in their country.

Human rights groups allege both sides likely committed atrocities during the post-election violence.

"Mr. Gbagbo is the first to be brought to account, there is more to come," Moreno-Ocampo added in his statement.

Gbagbo is the first former head of state to face ICC prosecution.