Reuters

Former Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo

Abidjan - Ivory Coast's government has freed on bail a handful of allies of jailed former president Laurent Gbagbo as part of a deal to see his camp take part in a parliamentary poll, but his main FPI party is still set to boycott the vote.

Gbagbo and dozens of his former government officials have been in jail since they were removed from power in fighting that erupted after Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to current President Alassane Ouattara, who won an election last year.

“We are disappointed as of the 65 requests that we submitted for bail, only nine were examined and eight were approved,” said Herve Gouamene, a member of the group of lawyers representing the pro-Gbagbo officials.

Among the freed were three former ministers and a journalist who previously worked for the state broadcaster.

Gbagbo is under house arrest and has been charged with “economic crimes”. The International Criminal Court last month opened an investigation into alleged war crimes committed during the standoff, including rape, killings and torture.

The granting of bail was part of a deal struck to see at least some of the pro-Gbagbo camp represented in parliamentary elections that are due on December 11.

The former ruling Front Patriotique Ivorian (FPI) is still boycotting the process but four minor pro-Gbagbo parties have agreed to put forward 20 candidates in the poll.

The top cocoa grower's rapid recovery from the conflict has surprised many Ivorians and foreign observers, but a spate of attacks by gunmen on military targets last month underscored how fragile those gains are. - Reuters