The International Criminal Court ruled on Wednesday against a challenge by Cote dIvoire ex-president Laurent Gbagbos lawyers on its jurisdiction to try him for crimes against humanity.
The chamber finds that the court has the jurisdiction over alleged crimes... including those committed since 28 November 2010 on the basis of (a) declaration of 18 April 2003, by Cote dIvoire, the ICC said.
Mr Gbagbos lawyers in late May challenged the Hague-based courts competence to put the former west African leader on trial for alleged crimes committed after Cote dIvoires disputed polls in November 2010.
The defence asked the court to rule that a declaration signed by Cote dIvoire in April 2003 recognising the courts jurisdiction, would not be relevant to the period covered by the allegations against Mr Gbagbo.
Mr Gbagbos defence also asked the international court to rule that his rights were infringed during the strongmans eight-month detention in Cote dIvoire and in the course of his transfer to the ICC, making a fair trial impossible.
However, the ICCs judges on Wednesday found that the declaration, signed by Mr Gbagbos then Foreign minister Bamba Mamadou, recognised the tribunals jurisdiction for an indefinite period.
Therefore, Cote dIvoire accepted the jurisdiction of the court over events from 19 September 2002 onwards, they ruled.
The chamber finds that the court has the jurisdiction over alleged crimes... including those committed since 28 November 2010 on the basis of (a) declaration of 18 April 2003, by Cote dIvoire, the ICC said.
Mr Gbagbos lawyers in late May challenged the Hague-based courts competence to put the former west African leader on trial for alleged crimes committed after Cote dIvoires disputed polls in November 2010.
The defence asked the court to rule that a declaration signed by Cote dIvoire in April 2003 recognising the courts jurisdiction, would not be relevant to the period covered by the allegations against Mr Gbagbo.
Mr Gbagbos defence also asked the international court to rule that his rights were infringed during the strongmans eight-month detention in Cote dIvoire and in the course of his transfer to the ICC, making a fair trial impossible.
However, the ICCs judges on Wednesday found that the declaration, signed by Mr Gbagbos then Foreign minister Bamba Mamadou, recognised the tribunals jurisdiction for an indefinite period.
Therefore, Cote dIvoire accepted the jurisdiction of the court over events from 19 September 2002 onwards, they ruled.
