ICC denies Gbagbo request to attend mother’s funeral

The International Criminal Court has turned down a request by former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo to attend his mother's funeral, saying it would put himself and his country at risk.

The former leader's elderly mother died in a remote village in Cote d’Ivoire this month and last week his lawyers asked the ICC to allow him to travel home to make funeral arrangements and attend the burial ceremony.

Mr Gbagbo's lawyers said the former-president would adhere to a stringent list of conditions and guarantees if allowed to go.

They referred to the case of former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was allowed to attend his father's funeral in Brussels in 2009.

Prosecutors opposed the request, saying Mr Gbagbo's mere presence would likely increase the risk of public mass gatherings, turmoil and violence in Cote d’Ivoire.

Gbagbo, 69, faces an ICC trial for four counts of crimes against humanity, allegedly committed at the end of his 10 year rule, after he refused to accept defeat in an election in November 2010.

Source: News 24