Earthquake hits off Japan coast

30 July 2011 Last updated at 20:06 GMT A 6.4 magnitude earthquake has been felt in north-east Japan, shaking buildings in the capital Tokyo, reports say.

The quake's epicentre was off the east coast of Honshu.

It struck in the same area as the 11 March earthquake and tsunami but no abnormalities at Japanese nuclear plants were reported, Reuters says.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries and no tsunami warning was issued.

More than 20,000 people died or were reported missing as a result of the disaster in March, which also crippled nuclear reactors in the Fukushima area.

The quake occurred close to Iwaki, with its centre around 100km (60 miles) south-south-east of Fukushima city.

It occurred at 0354 local time on Sunday (1854 GMT Saturday), at a depth of 44km (27 miles).

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Ivory Coast warrant for Ble Goude

1 July 2011 Last updated at 19:24 GMT The Young Patriots leader, who has not been seen since April, was put under UN sanctions in 2006 Ivory Coast has issued an international arrest warrant for ex-President Laurent Gbagbo's youth militia leader, who has been on the run since April.

The prosecutor said Charles Ble Goude was accused of inciting ethnic violence and xenophobia, Reuters reports.

Known for his vitriolic speeches, he mobilised thousands of men to join the army in the final days of the stand-off after November's disputed polls.

Mr Gbagbo was removed by force after refusing to accept electoral defeat.

An estimated 3,000 people were killed before Mr Gbagbo's arrest in April.

The UN oversaw the election and said it was won by his rival Alassane Ouattara, who has since been inaugurated as Ivory Coast's president.

House arrest

Mr Ble Goude, who was put under UN sanctions in 2006 accused of inciting attacks against UN personnel, has been on the run since Mr Gbagbo's capture.

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For many weeks, people incited hatred and xenophobia and committed all kinds of atrocities”

End Quote Simplice Kouadio Koffi Public prosecutor He has reportedly been spotted in Benin and Ghana.

"Arrest warrants have been issued against suspects on the run," AFP news agency quotes public prosecutor Simplice Kouadio Koffi as saying.

Mr Gbagbo named Mr Ble Goude his youth minister after the November election when he refused to leave office.

During the four-month impasse that followed, many members of Mr Ble Goude's Young Patriots group were given weapons.

"For many weeks, people incited hatred and xenophobia and committed all kinds of atrocities," the prosecutor said, Reuters news agency reports.

Warrants have also been issued for Mr Gbagbo's former spokesman Ahoua Don Mello, former minister Philippe Attey and the ex-envoy to Israel Raymond Koudou Kessie, the prosecutor said.

On Sunday, 15 associates of Mr Gbagbo were charged with forming armed groups, economic crimes and undermining the state.

Mr Ouattara's government has promised an end to impunity, but so far only pro-Gbagbo supporters have been arrested despite the findings of a UN Human Rights Council report that both sides committed atrocities during the conflict.

Mr Gbagbo has yet to be charged and remains under house arrest in the north of the country.

The elections in Ivory Coast were meant to draw a line under a 2002-03 civil war which left the country split in two.

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Ivory Coast deadline for evidence

17 June 2011 Last updated at 15:58 GMT Both Alassane Ouattara's forces and those loyal to Laurent Gbagbo have been accused of atrocities Victims of post-poll violence in Ivory Coast have been given 30 days to submit testimony to the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo said these would lend support to his request for a formal ICC investigation into crimes committed during months of violence.

The crisis began when Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat in November's poll and had to be removed by force.

An estimated 3,000 people were killed before Mr Gbagbo's arrest in April.

This week, the government of newly inaugurated President Alassane Ouattara said it was setting up a national commission to investigate crimes committed during the four-month dispute.

Both Mr Ouattara's forces and those loyal to Mr Gbagbo have been accused of atrocities.

"Should the judges authorise the opening of the investigation, victims will also have the opportunity to participate in the proceedings and, at a later stage, to request reparations," the statement from Mr Moreno-Ocampo's office said.

The elections in Ivory Coast were meant to draw a line under a 2002-03 civil war which left the country split in two.

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Ivory Coast asks for ICC probe

19 May 2011 Last updated at 14:53 GMT Thousands of people have sought refuge in and around a church in Duekoue Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has asked the International Criminal Court to investigate allegations of serious human rights crimes committed during the country's recent turmoil.

This was because "Ivorian justice [was] not at this time best placed to reveal the most serious crimes", he said.

An estimated 3,000 people were killed during the four-month election dispute.

More than 25,000 people are still living in the grounds of a church in the western city of Duekoue.

They say they fear for their safety because they belong to an ethnic group, the Guere, seen as loyal to former President Laurent Gbagbo, who was arrested last month after refusing to accept defeat in last year's elections.

After taking power, Mr Ouattara promised that crimes committed by all sides during the dispute would be investigated.

ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has already said that his office was preparing to launch a formal investigation into alleged mass killings in Ivory Coast.

Several hundred people were reportedly massacred in Duekoue during the unrest during fighting between Gbagbo and Ouattara supporters, with both sides blaming the other.

People in the church are living there in desperate conditions.

"They are living in tents and it is the rainy season in the west of Cote d'Ivoire right now. When it rains, they have to all run away and sometimes they have to sleep standing up," reports the BBC's Abdourahmane Dia, who visited the church.

Inauguration

A number of mass graves have been found in the area as well as in the main city, Abidjan.

Local people allege that many of the victims in Abidjan were killed by Mr Gbagbo's supporters.

Continue reading the main story 28 Nov 2010: Incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and challenger Alassane Ouattara in election run-off2 Dec: Electoral commission announces that Ouattara won 54% of vote3 Dec: Constitutional Council declares Gbagbo the winner; UN says Ouattara was victor30 Mar 2011: Pro-Ouattara forces enter the capital, Yamoussoukro4 Apr: UN launches air strikes on Gbagbo in main city, Abidjan11 Apr: Gbagbo seized from his official residenceMr Ouattara's government has accused Liberian mercenaries and pro-Gbagbo militias of killing more than 200 people as they fled west after Mr Ouattara's forces captured Abidjan last month.

Human rights groups have accused Gbagbo fighters of using heavy weapons against civilians and targeting members of ethnic groups seen as supporting Mr Ouattara.

Pro-Ouattara forces are also accused of killing and raping during their offensive from their northern bases towards Mr Gbagbo's former strongholds in the south.

President Ouattara was sworn in as president earlier this month and is trying to restore normal life after the four-month dispute.

He is planning an even bigger inauguration ceremony this Saturday in the capital, Yamoussoukro.

Mr Ouattara, supported by much of the international community, took power when forces loyal to him, with support from the United Nations and French troops, captured Mr Gbagbo in Abidjan's presidential residence after a fierce battle.

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