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A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 2 February 2019
Ex-Ivory Coast leader released by international court

THE HAGUE, Netherlands his lawyer Geert-Jan
(AP) — Ivory Coast's ex- Knoops told reporters at the
president and a former court. He said Ble Goude
youth minister were re- likely would be released Fri-
leased from International day evening, but it was not
Criminal Court custody Fri- clear where or when.
day, more than two weeks Prosecution lawyers had
after they were acquitted urged judges to release the
of involvement in deadly men only with conditions
violence that erupted after to ensure they return to
their country's 2010 elec- the court for their appeals
tion. phase. Defense lawyers
Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji said had urged their immediate,
that former President Lau- unconditional release.
rent Gbagbo and Charles Gbagbo's lawyer, Emman-
Ble Goude should be freed uel Altit, told judges: "His
under conditions intended innocence has been rec-
"to protect the integrity of ognized by the judges and
the process." Prosecutors it is impossible to limit the
are expected to appeal freedom of an innocent
their acquittals. person."
Gbagbo, who smiled Trial judges at first ordered
broadly and waved to sup- In this Wednesday Jan. 16, 2019, file image supporters of former Ivory Coast President Laurent the immediate release of
porters in the court's gal- Gbagbo celebrate outside the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. Gbagbo and Ble Goude
lery after the ruling, was Associated Press after their Jan. 15 ac-
released Friday evening quittals, but they have
along with Ble Goude. They that could be taken in the house them, report weekly was jailed nearly five years remained jailed amid
were taken to an undis- meantime. to police or the court and ago. wrangling over whether
closed location. Among the conditions not contact witnesses or Jubilant supporters danced judges should impose con-
Eboe-Osuji instructed court imposed, the men must talk to the press about their and chanted "Released!" in ditions on their freedom
officials to identify a coun- pledge to return to court if case. French outside the court. or even keep them in de-
try willing to accept Gbag- they are told to, turn in their Gbagbo had been in cus- "We are very happy for Mr. tention if it proved impos-
bo and Ble Goude and to passports and not leave tody at the court since No- Ble Goude and his family sible to release them with
look into "interim measures" the country that agrees to vember 2011. Ble Goude that he's finally released," conditions.q
Italy's Salvini backs EU train line opposed by govt partner

By COLLEEN BARRY The tunnel, including two
Associated Press parallel tubes and con-
MILAN (AP) — Italian Dep- necting chambers, itself will
uty Premier Matteo Salvini be 57 kilometers (35.4 miles)
said he supports a review long, making it a critical link
of a high-speed railway in a wider EU project.
project stalled by protests Italy's new populist govern-
for decades but thinks the ment suspended the rail
project should be com- line work in July for a study,
pleted despite opposition but the project has been
to it by his government co- beset by many previous
alition partner, the 5-Star delays due to protests.
Movement. The 5-Star Movement has
The TAV line — the Lyon-to- long opposed the project
Turin section of a larger EU as too costly and initially as
project connecting south- environmentally damag-
ern EU nations with eastern ing.
Europe — is proving to be While the No-TAV move-
another source of tension ment has long been a fix-
within the Italian govern- ture of the Italian protest
ment ahead of European Italian Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, visits the construction site of a high- scene, with violent clashes
Parliament elections in May speed railway project in Chiomonte, near Turin, Italy, Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. in 2005, entrepreneurs who
that could rebalance pow- Associated Press are a big part of Salvini's
er in the coalition. League party base have
Italy also risks another dis- workers have been digging from partners if it pulls out. the project is doable," Sil- begun to push the neces-
pute with neighboring a tunnel for the high-speed But a 5-Star spokesman in vestri said. sity of the high-speed rail.
France, with which it has train project, Salvini noted parliament, Francesco Sil- The Turin-Lyon Observatory, France also has an inter-
clashed recently over mi- that 25 kilometers (15 miles) vestri, shot back that the a government office, says est in completing the tun-
gration and the 5-Stars' of tunnel have already train tunnel work had hard- 28.9 kilometers (18 miles) nel, which would serve
support for France's anti- been cleared. ly been started. of a total of 162 kilometers both freight and passenger
government yellow vests "Turning back will cost us "Salvini went to see the (100 miles) of tunnel have trains, reducing the travel
activists. as much as going ahead," TAV construction site. But is been completed, 7 kilome- time from Milan-to-Paris
During a snowy visit to he said, in reference to the it only a 5-meter hole that ters (4.4 miles) in Italy and from seven hours to 4 1/2
Chiomonte in Turin, where penalties Italy would face was necessary to study if the rest in France. hours.q