OUSTED Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo was the the victim of a French-backed coup, his defence team told the International Criminal Court (ICC) yesterday.

Lawyer Emmanuel Altit told the court at The Hague in the Netherlands that Mr Gbagbo was working to restore democracy in his country when he was overthrown by supporters of current President Alassane Ouattara backed by French commandos and mercenaries.

On Thursday, Mr Gbagbo and co-defendant Charles Ble Goude pleaded not guilty to four charges — including murder and rape allegedly committed by his supporters during violence that left 3,000 people dead after the 2010 presidential election.