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Kenya: Uhuru Kenyatta challenges ICC case | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The International Criminal Court in The Hague is holding 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 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, defence lawyers are urging 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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, is also due to stand trial at The Hague for orchestrating violence against supporters of Mr Kibaki in 2007 - he strongly denies the allegation. | Mr Kenyatta's running mate in the recent poll, William 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. | 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. | 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. |
The ICC originally charged six people over the violence in Kenya but charges against two others were previously dropped. | The ICC originally charged six people over the violence in Kenya but charges against two others were previously dropped. |