Gbagbo chosen to head opposition party

Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo, currently on trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity, has been chosen to head the dissident wing of the Ivorian People's Party (FPI). A report on the News24 site notes that Gbagbo was the only candidate for the position and won 97.5% of 5 325 votes cast, said Franck Kouassi, spokesperson for the pro-Gbagbo wing of the opposition party. ‘Laurent Gbagbo remains the cornerstone of our group,’ Kouassi reportedly told AFP. Gbagbo is the first former head of state to be tried at The Hague. He has pleaded not guilty to charges arising out of the post-election violence which wracked the Ivory Coast in 2010 to 2011.