Ivorians protest former Head of State Laurent Gbagbo’s Hague incarceration

By FELIX OLICK

The Hague: The International Criminal Court (ICC) was under siege Wednesday as residents from Ivory Coast took to the streets protesting the detention of their former Head of State Laurent Gbagbo.

Kenya’s United Republican Party Organising Secretary George Ayugi joined the protesters, who chanted anti-ICC slogans as Kenyan lawmakers waved at them from a distance.

 The demonstration coincided with the arrival of Deputy President William Ruto at the court.

Chanted slogans

 “Freedom! Freedom! Freedom Gbagbo! Freedom! Freedom! Freedom Kenya!” chanted the protesters as Ruto’s convoy pulled up.

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 Ruto went into the courtroom after a short prayer with the MPs. “Gbagbo is the President of Ivory Coast. We shall camp here till he is released,” said Willy Bla as they welcomed Ayugi.

 As they chanted, two uniformed Dutch police officers stood by keenly following the unfolding events. Gbagbo’s case was due for mention Wednesday.

The former president was transferred to the ICC on November 30, 2011, for alleged involvement in deadly post-election violence.