ICC frees Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo of war crimes

On trial since 2016, Gbagbo is the first-ever head of state to be handed over to the Hague-based ICC.

He faces four counts of crimes against humanity for his role in fomenting a wave of post-electoral violence eight years ago in the west African nation.

Unrest wracked the Ivory Coast for five months from December 2010 until early 2011, after Gbagbo refused to accept his internationally-recognised defeat by his rival Alassane Ouattara.

The crisis - which saw both sides level allegations of gross abuses - paralysed the world's largest cocoa producer and west African powerhouse for several months. 

About 3,000 people died when rival supporters clashed on the streets of Abidjan.

ICC judges ruled that he had no case to answer because the prosecution had failed to prove several charges against him. They have ordered his immediate release.