... Former President-for-Life of Ivory Coast from 2000 to 2011. Laurent lost to Alassane Ouattara in 2010 but his representtive tore up the results on the teevee and he refused to vacate the presidential palace. French troops assisted the Oattara forces in extricating him from his Fuhrerbunker...
will soon face trial, reports say.
Incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo was captured by French forces on Monday and handed over to opposition leaders.
Now the main task ahead of Ouattara is to reunite the nation.Ouattara has said a truth and reconciliation would soon be established.
Laurent Gbagbo surrendered after hus residence in Abijdan came under attack. He refused to step down after the November election in which his rival Alassane Ouattara was announced the winner.
The UN also recognised Ouattara as the legitimate President of Ivory Coast, but Mr Gbagbo refused to cede power leading to a civil war that claimed hundreds of lives.
Both the UN Secretary General the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon and US President Barack
B.O.Obama have welcomed the capture of Gbagbo.
Obama has urged gangs to strengthen opportunities of a democratic future and lay down their arms.
Mr Gbagbo and his wife are reportedly under UN guard at Abidjan's Golf Hotel.
In a TV message, Ouattara has called on the people of Ivory Coast to refrain from violence. A message has also been aired from Gbagbo calling for and end to hostilities.