Supporters say farewell as Gbagbo leaves Belgium

The former president of the Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo, checked in at Belgium's main airport on Thursday, his lawyer said, ready to fly to his home country for the first time in nearly a decade after being acquitted by the International Criminal Court.

Gbagbo was not seen checking in by waiting media, but lawyer Habiba Toure said that he was finalizing his flight formalities and had headed into the departures area of Brussels airport through a protocol entrance.

A small group of Gbagbo supporters had gathered at the airport to see him off.

IMAGE: AP