Ivorian ex-prez in dock

THE HAGUE: War crimes prosecutors accused ex-Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo of orchestrating “unspeakable violence”, including murder and gang rape, to cling to power after losing an election, pitching his country into civil war. Rising stiffly on the opening day of his trial at the International Criminal Court, Gbagbo, 70, pleaded not guilty to all charges. His co-accused, youth leader Charles Ble Goude, 44, also pleaded innocence and said he did not recognise the charges.