The international community has been calling for fair trials of alleged perpetrators and an early restoration of stability in Cote d'Ivoire following the end of a protracted post-election crisis.
The West African country took a breath of fresh air Monday after troops loyal to President Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognized winner of the November presidential run-off, detained former President Laurent Gbagbo and thus ended the months-long political impasse and armed conflict between the camps of the two presidential claimants.
Gbagbo, who also claimed victory in the election and whose refusal to relinquish power to Ouattara ignited the crisis, has been put under house arrest, Ouattara's government announced Tuesday.
In a televised speech to the nation Monday following Gbagbo's arrest, Ouattara announced that the former president will face trial, but his
rights would be guaranteed.
The new president also promised to form a truth commission to investigate past human rights violations and urged his compatriots not to take revenge against each other.
All perpetrators of violence on both sides of the Ivorian conflict should undergo open and transparent investigations that lead to a fair
trial and accountability, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said Tuesday.
OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said that the organization has noted Ouattara's pledge to treat the deposed president fairly and try
him in accordance with the law.
"We understand that a number of former FDS (Defense and Security Forces) soldiers loyal to Laurent Gbagbo were also arrested yesterday,
and it was unclear where they were taken and how they were treated," said Shamdasani, adding that the OHCHR's human rights staff in Abidjan were looking into the situation.
In the western part of Cote d'Ivoire, where supporters on both sides of the political divide had engaged in heavy fighting during the past
few months, the OHCHR's investigation teams had so far confirmed the deaths of 536 people, Shamdasani said, adding that the number could be
much higher and that the OHCHR was continuing investigations in that area.
Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) appointed a three-member international commission of inquiry Tuesday to investigate allegations of serious abuses and violations of human rights committed during the conflict.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), for its part, has also called for a dignified treatment of Gbagbo, while calling
Gbagbo's capture a unique opportunity to bring the crisis to an early end.
The ECOWAS Commission said Tuesday in a statement that it has urged Ouattara to ensure that the former leader was accorded the dignity and
rights due to him as a former head of state.
The organization also said it was heartened by Ouattara's conciliatory message in his speech Monday, and that it respects and supports
Ouattara's undertaking.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has also underlined "the need to ensure that there is no retaliation" against Gbagbo's supporters, his
spokesman said in a statement issued Monday.
Ban "underlined to President Ouattara the expectation that with Mr. Gbagbo's now in the hands of the president's forces, any further
bloodshed will be avoided," the statement said.
U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday called Ouattara and offered support for his efforts to "unite Cote d'Ivoire, restart the economy,
restore security and reform the security forces," the White House said in a statement.
The two presidents also reiterated the importance of ensuring that alleged atrocities are investigated and that the perpetrators,
regardless of which side they supported, are held accountable for their actions, the statement added.
China hopes that Cote d'Ivoire, which is still recovering from the recent unrest, could realize national reconciliation and get the country back on the track of peaceful development as soon as possible, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Tuesday.
Beijing is willing to work with the international community to play a positive role in promoting peace, stability and development in Cote d'Ivoire, he said.