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Laurent Gbagbo, Ivory Coast Ex-President, Walks Free at International Criminal Court

Was charged in connection with post-election violence that left 3,000 dead.

Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo—who was charged with crimes against humanity in connection with violence that left 3,000 dead—has been acquitted by the International Criminal Court. Gbagbo was the first former head of state to go on trial at the ICC at the Hague in the Netherlands. The violence in 2010 in Ivory Coast came after Gbagbo refused to accept that he had lost a disputed election to his rival, Alassane Ouattara. As well as the thousands killed, 500,000 people were displaced. Gbagbo was captured in 2011 by U.N. and French-backed forces supporting Ouattara. ICC judges said the prosecution had failed to prove several charges against him and have ordered his immediate release.