Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has pardoned 51 prisoners who had been jailed for committing violence and crimes "against state security" during the country's 2010 post-electoral crisis.

The West African country was plunged into violence after incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power to Mr Ouattara, whom the electoral body had declared the winner of a disputed run-off poll.

During the crisis that lasted from November 2010 to April 2011, more than 3,000 people were killed and over 150 women sexually abused, a report by Human Rights Watch said.

The pardoned offenders include General Brunot Dogbo Ble, who was a top military official under Mr Gbagbo.

He led the elite Republican Guard, which was accused of committing several of the killings.

The gesture of pardoning the offenders is part of President Ouattara's "commitment to work resolutely to consolidate peace", the AFP news agency reported, citing an official statement.