ICC Prosecutor Arrives in Ivory Coast for War Crimes Probe

Posted October 15th, 2011 at 6:55 am (UTC-5)
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The International Criminal Court's top prosecutor has arrived in the Ivory Coast to investigate possible war crimes during post-election violence.

Chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo met briefly with Prime Minister Guillaume Soro after arriving late Friday.

The prosecutor says he will meet with victims and officials on both sides of the conflict.

President Alassane Ouattara won the November poll, but violence erupted when then president Laurent Gbagbo refused to step down.

The United Nations says at least 3,000 people were killed during a four-month power struggle. The world body says it has evidence that both sides committed atrocities.

Earlier this month, the Hague-based ICC authorized a probe into whether war crimes were committed.

Mr. Ouattara was sworn into office after Mr. Gbagbo was seized in April and placed under house arrest.

Earlier this month, President Ouattara launched a reconciliation panel to help unify the nation and vowed to hold accountable anyone responsible for crimes during the political struggle.