Ivory Coast ex-strongman Gbagbo in shock ICC acquittal
ANP/AFP / Peter DejongAcquitted: Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo, pictured at the International Criminal Court on Tuesday
The International Criminal Court acquitted former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo on Tuesday over a wave of post-electoral violence, in a stunning blow to the war crimes tribunal in The Hague.
Judges ordered the immediate release of the 73-year-old deposed strongman, the first head of state to stand trial at the troubled ICC, and his former youth leader Charles Ble Goude, 47.
Gbagbo faced charges of crimes against humanity over the 2010-2011 bloodshed following a disputed vote the West African nation in which around 3,000 people were killed.
Prosecutors said Gbagbo clung to power "by all means" after he was narrowly defeated by his bitter rival -- now president -- Alassane Ouattara in elections in the world's largest cocoa producer.
But head judge Cuno Tarfusser said that the court "by majority hereby decides that the prosecution has failed to satisfy the burden of proof to the requisite standard."
He added that the court "grants the defence motions for acquittal for all charges for Mr Laurent Gbagbo and Mr Charles Ble Goude and orders the immediate release of both accused."
Gbagbo, who has spent seven years in detention, and Ble Goude hugged each other after the decision was handed down.
Supporters started cheering, clapping and crying in the public gallery of the court, prompting the judge to order them to sit down and "behave".
- 'Victory for justice' -
"I am very, very happy. Finally there is some justice," Gragbayou Yves, 45, a Gbagbo supporter from Paris, told AFP in the public gallery moments after the judgment was passed.
AFP / SIA KAMBOUJubilation: A man in Abidjan celebrates in front of a campaign poster of Charles Ble Goude after the ICC announced the acquittal
Wild scenes also erupted in Gbagbo's home town in the Ivory Coast, Gagnoa, with hundreds of supporters shouting "free, free" and dancing in the streets after watching the decision live on television.
"I'm happy. He did nothing wrong yet he's spent seven years in prison. It's important that he should be free, he's our leader," said supporter Bertin Sery.
In Abidjan, Assoa Adou, secretary general of Gbagbo's party the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), predicted the acquittal would ease political tensions rather than exacerbate them.
"We have just made a big step towards reconciliation," Adou said, amid a jubilant crowd at party headquarters. "Ivory Coast will soon be in peace."
Gbagbo was captured by Ouattara's troops, who were being aided by UN and French forces, and sent to The Hague November 2011, and his trial started in January 2016.
But the judges on Tuesday said prosecutors had failed to show there was evidence of a "common plan" to keep Gbagbo in power, a policy of attacking civilians, or that speeches by Gbagbo and Ble Goude incited violence.
Their release was suspended until a fresh hearing on Wednesday to give the prosecution time to respond to the shock judgment.
Gbagbo's lawyers last year argued that his case had descended into "fake reality" and should be dismissed, adding that he was now "elderly and fragile".
"This is a victory for justice," Gbagbo's lawyer Emmanuel Altit told a press conference after Tuesday's decision.
"It's also a victory for the ICC, as the judges have shown their professionalism and independence."
- 'Bitterly bruised' -
But the highly divisive case has tested the court's avowed aim of delivering justice to the victims of the world's worst crimes since its establishment in 2002.
AFP/File / Issouf SanogoFlashback to 2011: Ivory Coast was thrown into a five-month crisis as Ouattara and Gbagbo each claimed the presidency
The ICC has faced serious difficulties over attempts at to try top politicians for crimes committed by subordinates or followers -- most of them in Africa.
Last year, former DR Congo warlord and ex-vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba was acquitted on appeal for crimes allegedly committed by his militia in the Central African Republic in 2002-2003.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta also saw charges of crimes against humanity over electoral bloodshed dropped by the ICC's prosecutor in 2014.
The Gbagbo result leaves the court "bitterly bruised", said international law expert Mark Kersten of the University of Toronto.
"It leaves serious questions about the ability of the ICC to successfully target and prosecute state actors," he told AFP. "It must learn from these trials and errors to be better -- and meet expectations -- in the very near future."
Gbagbo acquittal also means he follows in the footsteps of his wife Simone Gbagbo.
The so-called Iron Lady walked away from a 20-year jail term in Ivory Coast in August when she was granted an amnesty by Ouattara after seven years in detention.
Ominous Serena, Djokovic make Open statements
AFP / Paul CrockSerena Williams rapped out an ominous warning to her rivals
A focused Serena Williams sent an ominous Australian Open warning with a 49-minute first-round demolition Tuesday as world number one Novak Djokovic destroyed his opponent as he targets a record seventh title.
US Open champion Naomi Osaka also stormed through, but world number one Simona Halep was lucky to stay alive, needing to dig deep and claw back from a set down before beating Kaia Kanepi 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 6-2.
American giant Williams is bidding to match Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam crowns on her first return to Melbourne Park since winning in 2017 while eight weeks pregnant.
Now 37, she kept a low profile in the lead-up to the opening major of the year and came out of the blocks flying against fellow mum Tatjana Maria, pummelling her German opponent 6-0, 6-2.
Sporting a striking jade green jumpsuit and fine mesh stockings on Rod Laver Arena, the 16th seed wasted no time in getting out of the blistering Melbourne heat and said it was good to be back.
"The last time I was here I was pregnant and playing at the same time which is insane," she said. "It's weird walking back on -– by myself this time -– it feels good. I have so many memories from last time I was here."
Bidding for an eighth Melbourne Park crown, few are betting against Williams despite her lowly seeding and she next faces Canadian Eugenie Bouchard who eased past China's Peng Shuai.
Williams played at the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth this month, but her appearance on Tuesday was her first outing on tour since a meltdown in losing the US Open final to Osaka in September.
Japan's Osaka, seeded four, wasted little time in dispatching Poland's Magda Linette 6-4, 6-2 and will next play Tamara Zidansek of Slovakia.
Like Williams, Djokovic is also gunning for a slice of history as he looks to win a seventh title. Fellow six-time champion Roger Federer is aiming for the same.
AFP / Paul CrockNovak Djokovic is bidding for a seventh consecutive Australian title
The Serb blasted past American qualifier Mitchell Krueger 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to set up a clash with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who he beat in Melbourne to win the first of his 14 Grand Slam crowns back in 2008.
"It feels great to be healthy and back on this court again," he said of Rod Laver Arena.
"I had a tremendous success in the last six months. It got me to a great position. Hopefully I can follow up on this victory tonight with a good performance."
- Escape act -
Fourth seed Alexander Zverev, who is looking to win his first Slam title and establish himself as a serious threat to Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal, cruised past Aljaz Bedene 6-4, 6-1, 6-4.
AFP / Paul CrockNaomi Osaka is second favourite with the bookmakers to win the Australian Open title for the first time
"I've had about 86 injuries and the ankle is still a bit swollen," said the 21-year-old. "But I've done everything right in my preparation. Now I either play well or I don't."
But eighth seed Kei Nishikori, who won in Brisbane last week, had a lucky escape.
The Japanese star looked down and out against little known qualifier Kamil Majchrzak, losing the first two sets before the Pole began badly cramping.
He bravely fought on before calling it a day after winning just two of the next 17 games.
Elsewhere, 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka benefited from an opponent pulling out, with Ernests Gulbis calling it quits after hurting his back in the second set.
Among the women, sixth seed Elina Svitolina easily progressed, as did Williams' sister Venus, who incredibly played her first Grand Slam tournament 22 years ago.
But two-time champion Victoria Azarenka was bundled out, along with 10th seed Darya Kasatkina.
Seventh seed Karolina Pliskova, who has made the quarter-finals in her last two appearances at Melbourne Park, went through, as did American Madison Keys, who reached the semis at the French and US Open last year.
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