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ICC delays trial of Kenya's Ruto until September ICC delays trial of Kenya's Ruto until September
(about 2 hours later)
The International Criminal Court has announced that Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto will go on trial for crimes against humanity in September.The International Criminal Court has announced that Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto will go on trial for crimes against humanity in September.
It also recommended parts of the trial should be held in Kenya or Tanzania.It also recommended parts of the trial should be held in Kenya or Tanzania.
A BBC correspondent in The Hague says this is a huge blow to the prosecution, which has fought hard to have Mr Ruto and others face justice at the ICC.
Mr Ruto denies orchestrating 2007 post-election violence, as does fellow indictee President Uhuru Kenyatta.Mr Ruto denies orchestrating 2007 post-election violence, as does fellow indictee President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The news comes after weeks of pressure from other African states and the AU to drop the charges against Mr Kenyatta and his deputy, our correspondent says.
Mr Kenyatta's trial is scheduled to begin in July.Mr Kenyatta's trial is scheduled to begin in July.
Time for preparationTime for preparation
On Monday, judges at the ICC accepted the request by Mr Ruto's lawyers for more time to prepare his defence.On Monday, judges at the ICC accepted the request by Mr Ruto's lawyers for more time to prepare his defence.
They ruled that trial of the deputy president - along with his co-accused, broadcaster Joshua arap Sang - would be delayed until 10 September.They ruled that trial of the deputy president - along with his co-accused, broadcaster Joshua arap Sang - would be delayed until 10 September.
The ICC judges also said it might "be desirable to hold the commencement of trial and other portions thereof, to be determined at a later stage, in Kenya or, alternatively, in Tanzania".The ICC judges also said it might "be desirable to hold the commencement of trial and other portions thereof, to be determined at a later stage, in Kenya or, alternatively, in Tanzania".
Though the decision is still to be approved, it is a huge blow to the prosecution that has fought to force the suspects to face justice at The Hague, reports the BBC's Anna Holligan. However, the prosecution said that despite its concerns about security it favoured bringing the trial closer to the victims.
The news comes after weeks of pressure applied from other African states and even the African Union, to drop the charges against President Kenyatta and his deputy, our correspondent says. In another major development on Monday, says the BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague, the ICC announced the case against the former president of the Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo, had been adjourned because of "insufficient evidence".
In another major development on Monday, she adds, the ICC announced the case against the former president of the Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo, had been adjourned because of "insufficient evidence".
The judges said the evidence against Mr Gbagbo presented by prosecutors was not strong enough to allow the case to move to trial, but not weak enough for them to throw out the charges.The judges said the evidence against Mr Gbagbo presented by prosecutors was not strong enough to allow the case to move to trial, but not weak enough for them to throw out the charges.
The news attracted rare criticism from Human Rights Watch, which said the decision "highlights the urgent need for the prosecutor's office to improve the way it builds cases".The news attracted rare criticism from Human Rights Watch, which said the decision "highlights the urgent need for the prosecutor's office to improve the way it builds cases".
Mr Gbagbo faces four charges of crimes against humanity relating to the violence that followed disputed presidential elections in 2010.Mr Gbagbo faces four charges of crimes against humanity relating to the violence that followed disputed presidential elections in 2010.