THE HAGUE, Netherlands –  Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court want to put Ivory Coast’s former president and another suspect alleged to be one of his key supporters on trial together on charges of involvement in deadly violence that erupted after the country’s 2010 presidential elections.

At a hearing Tuesday, trial lawyer Eric MacDonald said prosecutors want to try former president Laurent Gbagbo and former youth leader and Gbagbo ally Charles Ble Goude. Both men are in custody at the court’s detention unit in The Hague.

Judges already have confirmed charges against Gbagbo, clearing the way for his trial. A decision on whether charges against Ble Goude will be confirmed is expected before year’s end.

Both men insist they are innocent of charges including murder, rape and persecution.