ICC prosecutor warns Ivory Coast leaders over violence

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Leaders in Ivory Coast who incite "massive violence" or attacks on U.N. peacekeepers will face investigation by the International Criminal Court, its prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo warned on Tuesday.

The world's top cocoa grower faces a political crisis in the wake of a November 28 presidential vote which both the incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, and his rival Alassane Ouattara say they won.

Gbagbo has come under increasing international pressure to step down, but his youth minister, Charles Ble Goude, this week warned that Gbagbo's supporters would fight to the death to keep him in power.

Moreno-Ocampo said in a press statement he had not yet opened an investigation into the situation in Ivory Coast, but would do so if serious crimes were committed.

"For instance, if as a consequence of Mr Charles Ble Goude's speeches, there is massive violence, he could be prosecuted. Secondly, if U.N. peacekeepers or U.N. forces are attacked, this could be prosecuted as a different crime," the Hague-based ICC prosecutor said.

"Violence is not an option. Those leaders who are planning violence will end up in The Hague," he said.

Moreno-Ocampo urged African states to find a solution, saying they played a critical role.

"If no solution can be found and crimes are committed, African states could be willing to refer the case to my office and also provide forces to arrest those individuals who commit the crimes in Cote d'Ivoire," he added.

The United Nations' human rights chief has cited evidence of 'massive' violations in Ivory Coast, saying on Sunday that more than 50 people had been killed in unrest.

(Reporting by Sara Webb; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Mark Trevelyan)