前科特迪瓦总统在国际刑事法院出庭受审

The war crimes trial of former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo began Thursday at the International Criminal Court.

Gbagbo, the first former head of state to be tried at The Hague, is facing charges of crimes against humanity, including rape and murder, for the four month-long conflict in 2010 that left 3,000 people dead.  Prosecutors say the 70-year-old Gbagbo launched the war to cling to power, despite losing the presidential election to his rival, Alassane Ouattara.

The conflict finally ended after France, Ivory Coast's former colonial ruler, sent in troops to restore order and arrest Gbagbo. 

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the ICC headquarters before the start of the trial to show their support for Gbagbo.

The ICC also has a warrant for the former president's wife, Simone, on charges of crimes against humanity. She was sentenced last year to a 20-year prison sentence by an Ivorian court.