Ivory Coast has charged 12 allies of former President Laurent Gbagbo, including his son and the party chief, for their roles in the country's deadly post-election violence.

Officials said Wednesday close Gbagbo aide and former leader of the Ivorian Popular Front, Pascal Affi N'Guessan, was charged along with the former president's son, Michel Gbagbo.

Ivorian officials say some of the detainees face up to 20 years in prison for charges including challenging state security and rebellion.

More than two dozen of Mr. Gbagbo's aides have been charged with alleged crimes committed during the post-election power struggle between him and President Alassane Ouattara. The conflict, which lasted several months, left at least 3,000 people dead.

Mr. Gbagbo and his wife Simone are under house arrest but have not been charged.

Mr. Gbagbo was arrested in April for refusing to leave office after he lost November elections to Mr. Ouattara.

President Ouattara has vowed justice will be equally applied to all those responsible for the post-election violence, including his own supporters.

U.N. human rights investigators say they have evidence that both sides may have committed war crimes and human rights abuses.