Attorneys for former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo say the International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for his arrest.

The lawyers said the warrant was delivered to Mr. Gbagbo on Tuesday. Sources close to Mr. Gbagbo say he could be transferred to ICC custody within hours.

In October, the international court's top prosecutor launched a probe into whether war crimes were committed during post-election violence in the West African nation.

The unrest began after Mr. Gbagbo refused to give up power after losing a November 2010 presidential poll to opponent Alassane Ouattara.

At least 3,000 people were killed during a five-month power struggle that ended with Mr. Gbagbo's arrest in April, and Mr. Ouattara being sworn in as president.

ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has said there is evidence that both Ouattara and Gbagbo supporters committed war crimes.

Mr. Ouattara has created a reconciliation panel aimed at unifying Ivory Coast. He has also vowed to hold accountable anyone who committed crimes during the unrest.