This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-36585717
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Kofi Annan questions ICC over Kenyatta and Ruto cases | Kofi Annan questions ICC over Kenyatta and Ruto cases |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan has questioned the International Criminal Court's (ICC) handling of the cases against Kenya's leaders. | Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan has questioned the International Criminal Court's (ICC) handling of the cases against Kenya's leaders. |
| Mr Annan asked whether President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto should have remained free during their trials, says the Financial Times (FT). | Mr Annan asked whether President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto should have remained free during their trials, says the Financial Times (FT). |
| The ICC dropped charges of crimes against humanity against both men but said witnesses had been intimidated. | The ICC dropped charges of crimes against humanity against both men but said witnesses had been intimidated. |
| The cases related to violence after disputed elections in 2007. | The cases related to violence after disputed elections in 2007. |
| Some 1,500 people were killed and 600,00 forced from their homes as ethnic clashes spread around the country. | Some 1,500 people were killed and 600,00 forced from their homes as ethnic clashes spread around the country. |
| Both men denied the charges and accused the ICC of unfairly targeting African leaders. | Both men denied the charges and accused the ICC of unfairly targeting African leaders. |
| Kenya says it will withdraw from the ICC. | Kenya says it will withdraw from the ICC. |
| Africa Live: BBC news updates from the continent | Africa Live: BBC news updates from the continent |
| Mr Annan, who was appointed by the African Union to mediate Kenya's post-election crisis of 2007-08, accused the Kenyan government of using state resources to undermine the ICC. | Mr Annan, who was appointed by the African Union to mediate Kenya's post-election crisis of 2007-08, accused the Kenyan government of using state resources to undermine the ICC. |
| "The president and vice-president were the ones in the dock and so they put lots of efforts and resources into fighting the case," he said. | "The president and vice-president were the ones in the dock and so they put lots of efforts and resources into fighting the case," he said. |
| The former UN secretary general told the FT that Africans should seek justice abroad if they could not get it domestically. | The former UN secretary general told the FT that Africans should seek justice abroad if they could not get it domestically. |
| He also rejected accusations that the ICC was biased against Africa, saying: "Slobodan Milosevic and others convicted of war crimes in the former Yugoslavia had been tried in The Hague before the ICC was established." | He also rejected accusations that the ICC was biased against Africa, saying: "Slobodan Milosevic and others convicted of war crimes in the former Yugoslavia had been tried in The Hague before the ICC was established." |
| The African Union has been critical of the ICC with member states on the continent threatening to withdraw from the court. | The African Union has been critical of the ICC with member states on the continent threatening to withdraw from the court. |
| Mr Annan also praised the recent conviction of Hissene Habre, the former president of Chad, who was tried in an African Union-backed court in Senegal. | Mr Annan also praised the recent conviction of Hissene Habre, the former president of Chad, who was tried in an African Union-backed court in Senegal. |
| Analysis - Wanyama Chebusiri, BBC Africa, Nairobi: | |
| Kofi Annan's comments about the International Criminal Court have elicited sharp reactions. | |
| The interest the story has generated illustrates the emotional and political importance Kenyans attach to their leaders. | |
| Although President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto are yet to formally respond, critical comments on social media from their close associates and supporters, using the hash tag #SomeoneTellKofiAnnan, could represent the thinking of the two leaders. | |
| Those opposed to the former UN chief's remarks say his comments are ill-advised. They argue that the Hague-based court concluded there was no evidence to sustain the cases against the two leaders. | |
| However, opposition supporters have welcomed Mr Annan's comments, saying the former UN chief was right to speak out against impunity amongst African leaders. | |
| But to keen observers, the comments may have come too late to have any impact. | |
| Correction: This story has been amended to more accurately reflect Mr Annan's comments | Correction: This story has been amended to more accurately reflect Mr Annan's comments |