Cote d'Ivoire's reggae music star, Alpha Blondy, has called for the release of detained supporters of ex-president Laurent Gbagbo in national reconciliation.

In a statement obtained here by Xinhua on Monday, Blondy said, "I am appealing to my big brother, President Alassane Ouattara, to calm the hearts of the people by releasing detainees who were loyal to ex-president Laurent Gbagbo who are not facing murder charges."

Blondy made the appeal also on Saturday during a peace caravan organized by the government in collaboration artists.

The reggae star said he was satisfied with the conduct of the peace caravan, noted that "there's no problem between the populations at the grassroots."

"It's upon the politicians to talk and find solutions between themselves," he said. "Politicians need to promote reconciliation among themselves," he added.

He urged the government to engage in dialogue with the opposition groups, especially the party of the ex-president, in order to restore peace in Cote d'Ivoire.

Close to 100 military and political leaders under the previous regime and other pro-Gbagbo supporters are being held in prison on charges of crimes committed in the post-election crisis, including "murder, economic crimes and threatening state security."

The crisis unleashed by Gbagbo's rejection of Ouattara's election victory left at least 3,000 people dead and 1 million others displaced.

Gbagbo was arrested on April 11, 2011 and then transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague. He is accused of being "an indirect co-perpetrator of war crimes and crimes against humanity."