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Judge says Simone Gbagbo's crime against humanity trial can happen without her

A row over high-profile witnesses has hobbled proceedings against Gbagbo, wife of ex- president Laurent Gbagbo who was forced from power in 2011 by forces loyal to the incumbent Alassane Ouattara.

Former Ivorian first lady Simone Gbagbo looks on at Abidjan's courthouse on October 10, 2016 before the re-opening of her trial

The trial of Ivory Coast's former first lady Simone Gbagbo for crimes against humanity can proceed without her, a judge ruled Wednesday following her failure to appear in court.

Simone Gbagbo is accused of involvement in the shelling of Abobo, a northern suburb of the capital Abidjan, which was a Ouattara stronghold, and of being a member of a "crisis cell" that allegedly coordinated attacks by the armed forces and militias in support of Gbagbo.

She is already serving a 20-year sentence for "endangering state security".

Her lawyers have argued that the crimes against humanity trial, which began in May, cannot continue unless witnesses including parliament's speaker, a former prime minister and a former army chief appear.

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They have failed to turn up at previous hearings and have been criticised by Gbagbo's lawyers.

But judge Boiqui Kouadjo said the case would continue regardless -- without Gbagbo -- with court appointed lawyers representing her. The next hearing will be on November 28.

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