Former president Laurent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast made his first appearance at the International Criminal Court in the Hague on Monday.
Mr Gbagbo, 66, faces four charges of crimes against humanity, including rape and murder, arising from the aftermath to last year's disputed presidential elections in Ivory Coast.
The BBC reports the hearing lasted 25 minutes. Mr Gbagbo said he did not need to hear the charges and he was not asked to plead.
He has rejected accusations that the elections were rigged and accuses France of plotting to topple him from power.
He is the first former head of state to be detained to face trial in The Hague since the court's founding in 2002.
