Ivory Coast releases opposition figure Pascal N’Guessan

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast

An Ivorian opposition leader who was arrested early November for conspiracy against the state authority has been released, his lawyer announced on Wednesday.

"Pascal Affi N'Guessan was released but placed under judicial control after more than 5 hours of hearing before an investigating judge," his lawyer, Pierre Dagbo Gode, said.

The leader of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) was arrested in November following post-election protest of the Oct. 31 poll.

The Oct. 31 elections saw a boycott and a call for civil disobedience from the opposition over President Alassane Ouattara’s candidacy, who went on to win a third term.

Ouattara later called for dialogue on Dec. 14 during his inauguration speech, and the West African country's opposition welcomed the dialogue.

Last week, the Ivory Coast's government and opposition representatives discussed electoral reforms and ways to end a months-long political crisis.

Violent protests that followed the elections, boycotted by the opposition, claimed 87 lives and injured hundreds of others, according to official figures.

According to the government, 197 people have been put under judicial proceedings in the West African country in connection with the violence.