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Kenya: Uhuru Kenyatta to challenge ICC case | Kenya: Uhuru Kenyatta to challenge ICC case |
(35 minutes later) | |
The International Criminal Court in The Hague is to hold a special hearing to review its case against Kenya's President-elect, Uhuru Kenyatta. | The International Criminal Court in The Hague is to hold a special hearing to review its case against Kenya's President-elect, Uhuru Kenyatta. |
He denies accusations of instigating violence after the disputed 2007 poll. | He denies accusations of instigating violence after the disputed 2007 poll. |
The hearing comes a week after charges against his co-accused, Francis Muthaura, were dramatically dropped. | The hearing comes a week after charges against his co-accused, Francis Muthaura, were dramatically dropped. |
His lawyers will argue charges against Mr Kenyatta are now compromised but the ICC prosecutor has said she has additional evidence against him. | His lawyers will argue charges against Mr Kenyatta are now compromised but the ICC prosecutor has said she has additional evidence against him. |
The trial of Mr Kenyatta, who narrowly passed the 50% threshold to win elections earlier this month, is scheduled to start in July. | The trial of Mr Kenyatta, who narrowly passed the 50% threshold to win elections earlier this month, is scheduled to start in July. |
Last week, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said the case against Mr Muthaura had been dropped as some witnesses were too scared to testify, while another had recanted his statement. | Last week, ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said the case against Mr Muthaura had been dropped as some witnesses were too scared to testify, while another had recanted his statement. |
At the hearing, expected to begin at 14:00 GMT, defence lawyers will urge the judges to send Mr Kenyatta's case back to the pre-trial chamber for judges to assess what remains of the evidence - and decide whether it is substantial enough to justify a trial. | At the hearing, expected to begin at 14:00 GMT, defence lawyers will urge the judges to send Mr Kenyatta's case back to the pre-trial chamber for judges to assess what remains of the evidence - and decide whether it is substantial enough to justify a trial. |
The BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague says after the collapse of the case against his co-accused, there has been significant speculation that the charges against Mr Kenyatta may also be thrown out. | |
But an ICC spokesman has told the BBC that this is not something that will be discussed on Monday. | |
In the aftermath of the election in December 2007 - when Raila Odinga narrowly lost to incumbent President Mwai Kibaki - more than 1,000 people were killed and about 600,000 were left homeless. | |
Mr Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's founding president, is accused of organising attacks on members of ethnic groups seen as supporting Mr Odinga following the 2007 vote. | |
This month's election in Kenya was largely peaceful, though Mr Odinga - again the defeated candidate, has filed a Supreme Court appeal against Mr Kenyatta's victory. | |
He says the electoral authorities have manipulated the result. | |
He has been serving as prime minister in the coalition government set up in the wake of the 2007/8 violence. | |
Mr Kenyatta's running mate in the recent poll , William Ruto, supported Mr Odinga in 2007. | |
Mr Ruto is also due to stand trial at The Hague for orchestrating violence against supporters of Mr Kibaki in 2007 - he strongly denies the allegation. | |
Analysts say the ICC cases bolstered their ticket, as voters saw it as interference in Kenya's domestic affairs. | |
If Mr Kenyatta's trial on charges of crimes against humanity does go ahead, his lawyers are still hoping that the judges will allow him to attend via a virtual video link - rather than abandon his presidential seat in Nairobi, our reporter says. |